ETA New Releases, Employment & Training Administration (ETA)

ETA News Release: [June 28, 2007]
Contact Name: Jennifer Coxe and Matthew Faraci
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

U.S. Department of Labor announces nearly $250,000 grant to assist Ohio workers

Project will demonstrate use of Regional Innovation Grant

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $249,810 Regional Innovation Grant to assist northeast Ohio in conducting strategic planning activities to address automotive industry closings announced by the Ford Motor Co. The project, Focusing on Unique Transformation Using Resources Effectively – Northeast Ohio (FUTURE NEO), will focus on a 16-county region.

“Ohio leaders will use this Regional Innovation Grant to collaborate and create a strategic regional economic and talent development plan for growing industries and workers seeking opportunities following the closing of the area’s Ford Motor Co. plants,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco.

The grant, awarded to the Lorain County Workforce Investment Board, will focus on the rapid retraining of affected workers for careers in high growth, high wage occupations. The project will utilize talent development strategies that enable educators to quickly develop the necessary curricula to establish training that is directly tied to career pathways.

Goals of the project include minimizing the time affected workers are unemployed and providing additional education and training to ensure they can return to work in high growth occupations. Ohio counties targeted for this project include Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne.

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 comprehensive and strategic regional plans focused on talent development that is 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 on National Emergency Grants and other Department of Labor employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov/NEG.

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