News Release

Printer-Friendly Version

ETA News Release: [02/14/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Grant to Train Illinois Workers for Jobs in High-Tech Manufacturing

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that a $4.7 million grant has been awarded to the state of Illinois for a unique program to train displaced workers for jobs in the high tech manufacturing sector. A similar project is underway in Ohio.

The pilot program, the Integrated Systems Technology (IST) Training Program, establishes an Integrated Systems Technology training program in each of four Illinois community colleges (Richard J. Daley College, Elgin Community College, Rock Valley College, and Moraine Valley Community College) and four Ohio community colleges (Cuyahoga Community College, North Central State College, Owens Community College, and Sinclair Community College).

Each college will recruit and train workers who have been laid off to become IST technicians. The expected outcome of this project is the training and placement of more than 1,000 technicians over a two-year period from the combined efforts of the eight colleges.

“The President has proposed a comprehensive economic package that will stimulate job growth. This program represents a powerful partnership among the Department of Labor, the state workforce agencies, local educational organizations and the business community to train displaced workers in high demand skills where a great need for skilled workers exists,” said Secretary Chao.

The cash and in-kind match provided by all partners exceeds $17 million. All colleges will be provided with the industry-developed curricula—contributed by Caterpillar, Amatrol, and key educational partners. Caterpillar has invested more than $10 million toward writing curricula to industry skill standards and designing industry-standard training equipment. Amatrol has invested more than $5 million toward the refinement of curricula, skills, and objectives as well as the training equipment.

“This is a strong and complete three-way partnership of employment, economic development and education, supporting the American worker and American manufacturing,” said the Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training, Emily Stover DeRocco.

Each IST program will work closely with local One-Stop Career Centers, which will provide client assessment, job placement, and follow-up services. The project goal is to attain an 80 percent training completion rate. It is anticipated that 75 percent of the workers trained will secure full-time employment in small to mid-sized companies.

For further information about the services provided by the One-Stop Career Centers or to find the center nearest you, call the Toll-Free Help Line at 1-877-US2-JOBS or visit America’s Service Locator at www.servicelocator.org.

# # #

_________________________________________________________________