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ETA News Release: [09/08/2006]
Contact Name: Melinda Thielen
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release
Number: 06-1567-BOS
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Joins U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson to Present $2.74 Million Job Training Grant to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Cites Connecticut Need for "Tremendous Number" of Skilled Workers in Near Future
WATERBURY, Conn. — Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today joined Rep. Nancy Johnson on the campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College to announce the award of a $2,748,405 grant to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to help train workers for the financial services and insurance industries. Grant partners include the Connecticut community college system, The Workplace Inc., Capital Community College and the Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services Cluster.
"This $2.74 million grant will help make possible the first two-year insurance and financial services degree program in Connecticut," said Secretary Chao. "The curriculum will also prepare students to enter degree programs to become certified public accountants and financial advisers and will serve as a model throughout Connecticut for developing the future insurance and financial sector workforce."
"Connecticut will need a tremendous number of skilled workers in the coming years," Secretary Chao continued. "By 2012, Connecticut will need 49 percent more personal financial advisors, 49 percent more medical assistants, 43 percent more broadcast technicians, 40 percent more network systems and data communications technicians and 37 percent more motorcycle mechanics."
The grant will help a minimum of 275 presently-employed workers, and 125 dislocated or unemployed workers receive the additional training in the financial and insurance services fields. Connecticut's unemployment rate was at 4.3 percent in July compared with the national average of 4.7 percent with 32,500 payroll jobs added in the state since September 2003.
"Congresswoman Nancy Johnson is a passionate and powerful advocate for Connecticut's workers and one of the most respected voices in Washington on education, labor and economic issues," said Secretary Chao. "She knows that it's more important than ever before for workers to have some kind of education and job training beyond high school."
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