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ETA News Release: [06/03/2005]
Contact Name: David James or Michael Volpe
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x3984
Release Number: 05-0973-NAT

U.S. Secretary of Labor Announces $3.75 Million Advanced Manufacturing Grant to Pennsylvania

ERIE, Pa. — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a $3.75 million grant to help prepare workers in skills required by plastics manufacturers in Pennsylvania. Secretary Chao was joined by Senator Rick Santorum to present the award to Dr. Jack Burke, campus executive officer and dean with Penn State University and John Vogel, director of workforce development partnerships with Pennsylvania 's Department of Labor and Industry.

“As technology advances, workers need help in accessing the training needed in the 21st Century workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This grant will help Pennsylvania's workers in the plastics industry to gain the skills to be competitive in the worldwide economy.”

The grant, awarded to the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, will provide incumbent worker training and will support the development of occupational toolkits, co-ops and scholarships to build a pipeline of young workers attracted to advanced manufacturing.

Among other activities, the grant will feature innovation research to identify competitive advantages for new products. “This advanced manufacturing initiative illustrates the potential of statewide skills development projects that track innovative product development from R&D activities at our nation's premier universities, like Penn State, to commercialization and business development. Trained workers are necessary each step of the way, so this project will include occupational forecasting, supply chain analysis, technical education and training support, and internships,” said Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training.

The Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board will oversee the project; Penn State University will conduct research and development; and local workforce investment boards will assist employers in upgrading incumbent workers' skills. In October 2004, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced an initial series of investments totaling more than $24 million to address the workforce needs of the advanced manufacturing industry. 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 the program being funded in Pennsylvania, are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. These grants are intended to provide genuine solutions, leadership and models for partnerships that can be replicated in different parts of the country. For more information on this and other employment and training programs, visit www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/.

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