From the Office of Senator Kerry

Monday, November 22, 2004

Congressman John F. Tierney (D-Salem) joined Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry in bringing home $550,000 for North Shore Community College in the fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill. The bill awaits the President's signature pending correction of one unrelated matter in the overall bill. "Ensuring a vibrant, strong, and highly skilled regional workforce must be a top priority -- because it's a key to our future economic competitiveness," Senator Kennedy said. "I am grateful that we've been able to secure this funding, because I know that Wayne Burton and North Shore Community College are going to invest it wisely -- and we're going to see results." "I congratulate President Burton and the North Shore Community College for their efforts to expand business training and entrepreneurship. As the senior Democrat on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I know how critical it is to support new business leaders, especially in emerging high tech industries, and this funding will certainly help in that effort. I am pleased to work with Congressman Tierney and Senator Kennedy to obtain these important funds," said Senator Kerry. "In responding to the needs of regional workforce growth, the North Shore Community College has developed a strategy to provide an educated workforce for North Shore business and industry. This funding will allow the College to obtain IT and educational equipment for its science center and offer credit and non-credit programs directly related to workforce readiness. Programs such as these provide critical assistance for people trying to improve their skills and make a better life for themselves and their families,” said Tierney. "North Shore Community College is grateful to Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Representative Tierney for their strong commitment to post-secondary education, and particularly the Commonwealth's community colleges. Our region competes on the quality of our workforce. The $550,000 our delegation designated for NSCC to support those efforts in the FY 2005 federal budget, significantly advances our efforts to ensure that our academic programming is cutting edge and our technology current. Never has the collaboration between government, public higher education, and business been more important or more productive thanks to the leadership of our legislators. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff I extend our sincerest gratitude for your continuing exemplary support," concluded Wayne Burton, President, North Shore Community College. ####