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ETA News Release: [11/30/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x3984

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Grant of Nearly $500,000 To Encourage Careers in Advanced Manufacturing

Grant Is Part of $24.2 Million Advanced Manufacturing Training Initiative

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a $498,520 grant to inform youth, parents, and educators about career opportunities in advanced manufacturing. The grant, awarded to the Manufacturing Institute of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), is part of a $24.2 million advanced manufacturing worker training effort under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, a strategic plan to prepare workers for jobs in America 's fastest growing industries.

“As the current manufacturing workforce moves closer to retirement, there is a need to ensure there is a pipeline of skilled workers in this sector,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, young people will be provided with the resources to learn and access the exciting opportunities in this growing field.”

With the grant, NAM will launch the “Dream It, Do It” Careers Campaign in Kansas City , Missouri. The Kansas City pilot project will create tool kits and strategies that will be replicated and tailored for at least five additional manufacturing-intensive regions of the country. As part of the project, a targeted marketing campaign will be launched to inform youth, parents and educators of the rewarding career opportunities in advanced manufacturing. Efforts will be undertaken to ensure that local partnerships are developed between employers and training providers so that interested youth can find the training they need to enter the manufacturing workforce.

“Young people can find rewarding careers in the advanced manufacturing industry,” said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. “This grant will help educate young workers about exciting opportunities in this sector.”

Through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, the Department of Labor has been conducting executive forums with leaders of expanding industries to identify critical workforce gaps and issues. Solutions, like those found in today's grant, 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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