News Release

Printer-Friendly Version

ETA News Release: [07/21/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984

Labor Department Presents First Recognition of Excellence Awards

Presented at Workforce Innovations 2004 Conference, Awards Honor Employment and Training Providers

SAN ANTONIO, Tex.—Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco presented the first Recognition of Excellence awards here this week at the Workforce Innovations 2004 Conference. The awards recognize workforce investment system programs that have achieved outstanding success around the nation.

“Getting large numbers of workers trained for good jobs in expanding industries requires much more than meeting federal benchmarks,” said DeRocco. “Those programs that strive for innovative ways to train workers for jobs of the future; build strong coalitions among employers, education and economic development; and reach the hardest-to-serve populations deserve to be recognized and applauded for their accomplishments.”

The Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) presents Recognition of Excellence awards in five categories. The “Educating America’s 21^st Century Workforce” category recognizes innovative and effective strategies to prepare workers for the challenges of a workplace that requires higher skills and more education.

Honorees in the “Building an Industry/Business Driven Workforce Investment System” category respond to the needs of business, while preparing a skilled workforce to further continued job growth, while the “e³ Partnerships” category rewards projects that demonstrate sustained partnerships between employment, education and economic development—what DeRocco and ETA’s call the “Power of e³.”

“Recognizing the Demographics of the Workforce,” the fourth awards category, addresses the critical need to find ways to integrate every available worker into the labor force. Honorees in this category provide effective services to special populations, like individuals with disabilities, those with limited English proficiency, homeless individuals, and migrant farm workers.

The final category, “Serving Out-of-School Youth,” recognizes innovative techniques and collaboration with business, industry and essential partners in workforce and economic development to solve the education, training and hiring challenges of serving out-of-school young adults.

“We hope that these honors will throw a spotlight on what works so that others around the country will replicate successful projects, producing similar successful results,” said DeRocco.

NOTE: A full list of honorees is attached.

# # #

_________________________________________________________________