ETA News Release: [Oct. 21, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post or Ed Frank
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984 or 202-693-4676
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $1.4 Million Grant to Train High School Students for Careers in Construction Industry
Grant Is Part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced a $1.4 million grant to Honolulu Community College (HCC) to fund the creation of a Construction Academy. The grant, part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, will help prepare high school students for construction industry careers. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco delivered Secretary Chao's good news through a video message to construction industry leaders during the inaugural Construction Career Expo in Honolulu.
"The construction industry employs one in 20 workers in the United States and is expected to add nearly one million jobs by 2012. It is important that we take steps to ensure skilled workers are available," said U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "This $1.4 million grant will help fund a Construction Academy to train high school students for successful careers in the construction industry and provide a model for others to use in Hawaii and on the mainland."
The Construction Academy will provide approximately 500 high school students courses in an array of construction-related fields. Construction industry employers will visit schools and provide students with information on the career opportunities available within the industry. In addition, approximately 300 students will go on to enroll in construction apprenticeship programs and participate in industry-related associate and baccalaureate degree programs.
DeRocco added, "The creation of this academy will help raise awareness about the numerous opportunities available in an industry that has led the development of our country. The collaboration Honolulu Community College and its partners have developed smartly links students' high school experience at the Construction Academy with certificate and degree programs at Hawaii's community colleges."
To help raise awareness of construction career opportunities, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao launched the "Skills to Build America's Future" initiative in April 2004. This separate initiative seeks to address the nationwide shortage of skilled construction workers by attracting a new generation to the industry. More information on the "Skills to Build America's Future" Initiative can be found at www.careervoyages.com.
The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers to take advantage of 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. For more information, please visit www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/.
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