News Release

Printer-Friendly Version

ETA News Release: [09/12/2003]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984

U.S. Department of Labor Awards $14.7 Million for Advanced Technical Skills Training

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Labor Department today awarded $14.7 million to five local Workforce Investment Boards around the country to train workers for high-technology jobs. The grants are part of a long-term solution to domestic labor shortages in high-skills and high-tech occupations.

"Today the Department of Labor awarded $14.7 million to Workforce Investment Boards around the country to train workers for high technology jobs. These training grants will help the workforce investment system be demand-driven to meet the needs of the 21st Century high-technology employers and ultimately help workers," said Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment training. "The Labor Department's goal is to match workers with the jobs employers need to fill. Meeting that goal often translates into preparing and training workers for high skills, high-tech occupations."

The advanced training provided by these grants will focus on high-technology, information technology and engineering skills to prepare unemployed workers for well-paying jobs in occupations that need workers and to upgrade the skills of incumbent workers.

These technical skills training grants, awarded by the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration, were authorized under the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act, as amended in 2000.

Local Workforce Investment Boards that have local or regional public/private partnerships with businesses and community organizations are eligible for the grants. For more information about the Employment and Training Administration, visit http://www.doleta.gov/.

* * *

H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants

# # #

_________________________________________________________________