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ETA News Release: [03/26/2008]
Contact Name: Jennifer Coxe
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release Number: 08-0020-NAT

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announces $5 million grant to assist Georgia in base realignment and closure transition

ATLANTA — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today joined Gov. Sonny Perdue and U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson at Fort McPherson, where she awarded a $5 million dislocated worker demonstration grant to the state of Georgia. The funds will be used to address the civilian impacts of pending Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions affecting Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem, the Naval Supply Corps School–Athens and Fort Benning.

“This $5 million grant will help the Innovation Crescent region, from Athens to Atlanta, transition their workforces into new jobs in the life sciences industry and help the Chattahoochee Valley region prepare workers for new defense industry jobs at Fort Benning and jobs in aerospace and automotive manufacturing,” said Secretary Chao.  

As a result of BRAC 2005 actions, the Chattahoochee Valley region is expected to grow by as many as 30,000 new residents over the next four years.  This growth will drive the area toward a high wage, high skill sector that will demand new skills from the workforce in order to remain competitive. The Chattahoochee Valley region will focus training and economic development plans on the defense and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Meanwhile, downsizings at Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem and the Naval Supply Corps School — which are part of Georgia’s Innovation Crescent — will allow for the repositioning of their facilities and the transition of impacted civilian workers toward the region’s emerging life sciences industry.

The grant, awarded to the Georgia Office of Workforce Development, will support the expansion of pre-existing workforce development networks, the creation of regional economic and workforce strategies, and entrepreneurial training and development. Key partners in this effort include state and regional civilian and military leaders, business and industry, and education and economic development entities.

For more information on the Department of Labor’s employment and training programs, visit www.doleta.gov.