labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The US Department of Labor recently announced community-based worker training grants for Arkansas totaling just under $3.5 million. The President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative awarded $125 million to 69 community colleges across the United States.

 

The competition was announced in August of 2007, and received 341 applications. The funds go to training facilities and community colleges to aid workers in competing for high-growth industry jobs.

 

The two Arkansas grants go to Phillips Community College   of the University of Arkansas. The school, located in  Helena, will use the grant of $1,986,735 to train workers for the energy industry.

 

Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock received $1,506,652 to train workers for the aerospace industry.

 

“Community colleges are in a unique position to prepare local workers for careers in high-growth industries,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “The $125 million awarded today will expand enrollment in education and training programs and provide more workers with the skills they need to succeed.”

 

“Preparing local residents for careers in growing hometown industries is critical to improving the quality of life of thousands of Americans,” said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell. “These programs will provide participants not only with the skills needed to gain employment, but the change to enter into careers that offer opportunities for advancement.”

 

The Community-Based Job Training Grants are aimed at areas where industries need skilled workers. The funds go to community colleges in these areas to help workers of all ages train for these skilled positions. Consider a cluster of nuclear plants in New Mexico. They need workers skilled in the energy field. A grant could be given to a local community college to train workers for those jobs.

 

Several factors have changed the workforce in the United States over the past few years. An aging workforce, globalization and technical innovations have put nationwide industries such as healthcare, energy and biotechnology in dire need of skilled employees.

 

Awarding these Community-Based Job Training Grants helps community colleges come to the forefront in training America’s workforce to its full potential. Initiated in 2005, 72 grants were awarded and 70 grants were awarded in the second round of awards in 2006.

 

The 69 grants awarded for 2008 will provide assistance in 36 states.

 

Last 10 posts by Jolie

• Court Lowers Bar For Discrimination - November 13th, 2009
• Court: Drinking Binge Is Not FMLA - November 4th, 2009
• Kansas Minimum Wage - August 28th, 2009
• Mississippi Minimum Wage - August 13th, 2009
• Montana Minimum Wage Increase 2009 - July 22nd, 2009
• New York Minimum Wage Increase 2009 - July 10th, 2009
• South Dakota Minimum Wage Increase 2009 - June 29th, 2009
• District of Columbia Minimum Wage Increase - June 24th, 2009
• California Family Leave - May 20th, 2009
• EEOC Caregiver Controversy - May 4th, 2009