ETA News Release: [October 08, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post or Ed Frank
Phone Number: 202-693-3984 or 202-693-4658
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $1 Million Grant to Herndon-Based Nortel Networks Kidz Online
HERNDON, Va. - U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco today presented a $1 million grant to Nortel Networks Kidz Online in Herndon, Va. The grant, which will help educate teachers and students about careers in the geospatial industry, is part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative to address workforce challenges facing expanding industries. Today's grant is part of a national $4.9 million geospatial industry initiative.
"The geospatial industry is fast-growing and exciting and it offers a great deal of job opportunities. The workforce in this industry has doubled in the last four years and accelerated growth is expected in the years ahead," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "That's why training is so important. And, that's why the Administration is making a $4.9 million national investment in training and education models that can be replicated across the country to prepare our workers for the exciting and good paying career opportunities jobs in this industry offer."
Nortel's Geo21 project will take advantage of a learning environment powered by its own and NASA's outreach systems. Through video programming, live web casts and new geospatial educational content, Nortel Networks will raise awareness of geospatial tools and technologies. New programming will include Geographic Voyager, which will introduce concepts and follow geospatial contests in schools; Teacher to Teach, which will familiarize teachers with inquiry-based teaching and learning of geospatial concepts, and Community Building By Kids, which will focus on community development projects using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) competencies.
The grant will also allow Nortel Networks Kidz Online to integrate geospatial concepts into the Labor Department's Career Voyages website, which explores career options in high growth industries. The student-friendly site can be visited at www.careervoyages.gov.
"Geospatial industry leaders with whom we've met have emphasized the need for a pipeline of workers armed with the skills and competencies the industry demands," said DeRocco. "That pipeline begins with building an awareness among young people of the smorgasbord of occupations available in this fascinating sector of the economy."
The geospatial industry manages, interprets, and displays geographic, temporal and spatial data for activities ranging from automobile navigation to remote sensing. Occupations in the sector include engineers, mapping technicians, surveyors, architects, cartographers, and more.
The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to prepare workers for new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through executive 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. More information can be found at www.doleta.gov.
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