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OPA News Release: [10/27/2004]
Contact Name: Ed Frank or
Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or x3984
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Highlights Job Opportunities in Florida’s Growing High Tech Industries
Secretary Announces $3 Million Aerospace Training
Initiative, Tours Training Facility for Broadband Workers
TAMPA—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today
touted the creation of thousands of new high-tech jobs in Florida during
her announcement of a new national $3 million job training initiative
for aerospace workers and her tour of a Verizon facility in Tampa where
broadband communications workers are training.
The aerospace training initiative is part of President Bush's overall High
Growth Job Training Initiative and will directly benefit
Florida workers through two grants: a $362,000 grant will help the
Florida Space Research Institute reach out to math and science teachers
in Florida, and a second grant of $98,000 will help Brevard Community
College introduce young people to the knowledge and skills they need
to pursue careers in aerospace. Secretary Chao announced the grants
after touring Verizon's Temple Terrace Training Facility, which is
helping to train workers for careers in broadband communications,
another high-growth, high-tech sector.
“Thousands of new high-tech jobs are being created in Florida in industries
such as aerospace and broadband communications,” said Labor Secretary
Elaine L. Chao. “These grants are part of President George W. Bush's commitment
to help workers build the skills and training to take advantage of opportunities
in high-growth industries.”
Studies show that the widespread development of broadband in Florida
alone will create 26,300 new jobs and increase the state's economy by
more than $26 billion. In addition, Secretary Chao noted, the aerospace
grants announced today will help develop the pipeline of highly skilled
workers and professionals necessary for a vibrant aerospace industry.
“We're here to help ensure that the young people in Florida who want
to reach for the stars can achieve their goals,” said Chao.
Through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative,
the Labor Department has been conducting forums to identify critical
workforce gaps and issues. Solutions, like those found in today's grants,
are then created in cooperation with employers, employees, educational
institutions and the public workforce system.
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