ETA News Release: [Dec. 2, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post or Public Affairs
Phone Number: 202-693-3984 or 202-693-4676
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces $837,000 Grant To Train Texas Workers for Careers in the Automotive Industry
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a grant of $837,424 to train workers in Texas for careers in the automotive industry. The grant, awarded to Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas, is part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, a strategic plan to prepare workers for jobs in America's fastest growing industries.
"Labor shortages in the next decade will create opportunities for certified automotive service technicians," said Chao. "This $800,000 grant under the President's High Growth Training Initiative will provide Texans with training to qualify as a master technician and seize those opportunities to build careers in the automotive industry."
Eastfield College will offer approximately 100 individuals - 30 incumbent workers and 70 new students -- training leading to certification as automotive service technicians. With the support of project partner Toyota Motor Sales' Toyota Technical Education Network (T-TEN), participants will have the opportunity to successfully complete training in a manufacturer's post-secondary program and qualify as a master technician with Toyota or another manufacturer.
Eastfield's program will offer support services to ensure the success of untapped labor pools that experience language barriers, learning deficiencies or lack of employability skills.
"Developing qualified workers and diversifying the automotive workforce will go a long way toward addressing challenges facing the industry today," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "By training workers to industry standards, we can ensure that America's workforce is better prepared and able to adapt to change as technology and demand drives the need for highly skilled workers."
The President's 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 are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. For more information, visit www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/. For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.
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