The Central Valley in California was awarded $8.2 million from the US Department of Labor to train laid-off workers for high-demand, high-wage careers. The funding will go to the Central California Workforce Collaborative, a partnership of workforce investment boards in the Central Valley region. The grant aims to help dislocated workers transition to growing fields like agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, and manufacturing.
1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 23, 2010
For more information:
Adam Peck, 559.713.5200, apeck@tularewib.org
Central Valley Awarded $8.2 Million for Workforce Development
Funds will help train laid-off workers for ‘high-demand, high-wage’ careers
Visalia, CA — The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB)
announced today the awarding of $8,197,000 for the San Joaquin Valley to train laid-off
workers in “high-demand, high-wage” industries. The funding comes from the U.S.
Department of Labor’s National Emergency Grant (NEG) allocation.
“The grant will assist both workers who have been laid off and those facing
dislocations in the near future,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
The funds will be awarded to the Central California Workforce Collaborative
(CCWC), a partnership comprising all the WIB’s of the Central Valley. The CCWC
meets regularly to discuss common issues, develop strategies to address regional
problems, and collaborate of projects of mutual benefit, such as the NEG grant.
Steve Worthley, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, said the
grant is especially welcome news.
"We welcome funding that can help people who have been hit the hardest by this
economy - the folks who have lost their jobs," Worthley said. "This funding represents
an opportunity for them to learn new skills and be productive again. The Board is also
happy that our local Workforce Investment Board was able to play a key role in the team
effort by the Central Valley Workforce Collaborative to jumpstart our regional economy."
Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County ● 4025 West Noble, Suite A ● Visalia, CA ● 93277 ● T: (559) 713‐5200 ● F: (559) 713‐5263
2. “This regional grant application has been in development for a few months, and
only through the teamwork of the CCWC were we able to make this happen,” said
Adam Peck, Executive Director of the WIB. “Helping dislocated workers shift into high-
wage, high-demand careers will provide a long-term benefit to the Central Valley.”
The grant will focus in providing training and transition services to workers
impacted by widespread layoffs resulting from the economic downturn. Funding will
help workers prepare for careers in growing areas of the regional economy including
agri-business, renewable energy, logistics/distribution, health care, and advanced
manufacturing.
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Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County ● 4025 West Noble ● Suite A ● Visalia, CA ● 93277 ● T: (559) 713‐5200 ● F: (559) 713‐5263