ETA News Release: [October 29, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-3984 or 202-693-4676
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces $200,000
Grant to Girl Scouts of the USA to Educate Young Women
About Career Opportunities in the Automotive Industry
Grant is Part of $6.3 Million Automotive Industry Initiative
WASHINGTON-Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a $200,000 grant to Girl Scouts of the USA to educate young women about career opportunities in the automotive services sector. The grant is part of a $6.3 million auto industry worker training effort under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, which is helping workers find and prepare for jobs in America's fastest growing industries.
"There will be significant opportunities in the automotive industry over the next decade," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This $200,000 grant will help open a world of opportunities in the automotive industry to young women who might not otherwise be aware of the career options available in this growing sector of the economy."
Girl Scouts of the USA will use the grant to reach out to its constituency of nearly 2.8 million young women with an emphasis on recruitment of Hispanic and at-risk teens. In partnership with sponsors in the automotive industry, the Girl Scouts will offer girls resources and hands-on experiences to build knowledge and skills in car maintenance. The resources and experiences will expose young women to modern automotive technology and the widely diverse careers in the automotive industry.
"Building a pipeline of qualified auto workers begins with building awareness of opportunities, particularly among young girls who might not even consider these jobs," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "To remain competitive, the automotive industry will need to widen its recruitment parameters, reach out to young people earlier in their academic careers and diversify its workforce."
Key partners in the project include AAA offices, automotive insurance companies, dealerships and automotive associations, private auto repair operations, community colleges, technical schools, driving schools and high school drivers' education departments. Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, Snap-On Tools, Inc., Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), BMW of North America and Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association are also participating in the project.
The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers for new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through forums with leaders of expanding industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions, and the public workforce system.
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