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ETA News Release: [June 13, 2008]
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Contact Name:
Phone Number: |
Jennifer Kaplan
202-693-5052 |
Terry Shawn
202-693-4676 |
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U.S. Department of Labor awards $250,000 grant to develop
economic
strategies on Long Island
Project will assist workers in Nassau and Suffolk counties
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to the Town of Hempstead’s Department of Commerce to develop a regional innovation system that aligns economic development, education and workforce initiatives to provide better employment opportunities for workers. The region targeted for the project includes New York’s Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk.
“Local leaders are working together to establish a comprehensive plan for keeping Long Island workers competitive in today’s global economy,” said acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell. “This project involves public and private workforce system leadership, and representatives from the business and education sectors to make sure the region has the workforce it needs to attract and keep high-wage, high-growth industries.”
Long Island has experienced a series of layoffs within the mortgage and banking industry affecting more than 1,900 area workers. This project will lay the groundwork for identifying potential future dislocations, providing layoff aversion strategies when feasible, and creating a system that cross- references the skills of dislocated workers with the skills demands of regional industries.
This project will be led by the executive committee of the Long Island Business Services Team, which is comprised of representatives from Hempstead and the city of Long Beach, two local workforce investment boards and the New York State Department of Labor.
Regional Innovation Grants are drawn from National Emergency Grant funds to assist state workforce agencies and local workforce investment boards, as well as their key partners, in the design and development of strategic regional plans focused on talent development aligned with the demands of the 21st century economy.
National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor’s discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state’s ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit www.doleta.gov/NEG.
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U.S. Labor Department (DOL) releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755. DOL is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
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