Press Release - Nov 14, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, 2007
CONTACTS:
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Bill Thoennes, 303.318.8004, Bill.Thoennes@state.co.us
CherRoybal Haavind, 303.318.8003, Cher.Haavind@state.co.us
Colorado Receives Two Grants to Assist Military Spouses in Need of Job Training Skills
Gov. Bill Ritter announced today that Colorado has received two federal grants worth $2.7 million that will provide training funds to the spouses of military service personnel, assisting them in making career advancements.
"Military spouses are often moving two or three times a year," Gov. Ritter said. "They have to pack up and take off, making sacrifices that many of the rest of America cannot even imagine. This funding will help them gain the skills needed to successfully enter, navigate and advance in 21st century jobs."
The grant funds are being provided by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Defense and will be administered by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and Workforce Centers across the state.
The first grant totals $600,000 and is part of the "Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative." Military spouses with a high school diploma or GED and/or some level of post secondary education can apply for up to $6,000 over two years in the form of a Career Advancement Account.
This money can be used to pay for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training, including tuition, books, necessary equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees in nationally identified high-growth fields such as education, health care, information technology, construction trades and financial services.
The second grant is for $2.1 million and is being made available as part of the Base Closure and Realignment process. Colorado is not among the states that will see base closures. Instead, these funds will assist military families as well as the families of Department of Defense civilian employees who will be redeployed to bases in Denver, El Paso and Teller counties.
Colorado Springs will face the challenge of thousands of service personnel and their families being redeployed to Fort Carson over the next few years. Redeployment and relocation can be difficult for spouses, who often find themselves in a new city without the career they had to leave behind. This grant will address their employment and retraining needs.
"Opportunity starts with education," said Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Executive Director Donald J. Mares, "and thanks to this financial partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Defense, we can offer opportunities to a significant number of military families. These grants will help build a vibrant and dedicated workforce for Colorado."
To learn more about the grant programs and training dollars that are available, military spouses should contact their nearest Colorado Workforce Center (click here for a directory of Workforce Centers).