ETA News Release: [June 2, 2004]
Contact Name: Ed Frank
Phone Number: 202-693-4676
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces Launch of
$17.2 Million National Biotechnology Training Initiative
First Grant for $2.4 Million Awarded to Pittsburgh Organization
PITTSBURGH -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the launch of a $17.2 million national Biotechnology Worker Training Initiative as part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. The grants will fund solutions to address the skills needs and workforce challenges facing the industry. Today's announcement was made at an event highlighting a $2.4 million award to Pennsylvania-based Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse.
"This $17.2 million in training funds will recruit and train workers for jobs in the biotechnology field, which is expected to be one of the fastest growing sectors by 2012," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "The grant awarded today to Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse is the first in a series of grants designed to increase awareness about promising biotechnology-related careers, address the need for skilled workers in the industry and provide good jobs for workers."
The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG) grant project will try to match trained workers with local biotechnology companies. PLSG will develop curriculum and training that will combine industry skills sets and academic disciplines to shape workers with a "hybrid" of desired capabilities. The project also is designed to create and retain a pipeline of qualified workers who can advance in the biotechnology industry. Key partners in the project include Renal Solutions Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa., the Community College of Allegheny County, the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the Allegheny County Workforce Investment Board and the Allegheny County Job Link.
"Biotechnology industry revenues have more than quadrupled from $8 billion in 1992 to $33.6 billion in 2002, and the industry is expected to employ nearly 815,000 workers by 2007," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "This initiative will increase worker skills across a range of disciplines and provide the chance to find good jobs in the industry with the opportunity for advancement as the biotechnology field continues to grow."
The High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers to take advantage of new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through executive forums with leaders of expanding industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions, like today's grant, are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system.
###
U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755.
