GRANTEE:   Alliance for Business and Training

ADDRESS:    P.O.  Box 249

                        Carter County

                        Elizabethton, TN 37644  

AMOUNT:     $3,000,000

Duration:      24 Months

POPULATION SERVED:  2,891 employed workers and 197 new hires who have existing occupational skill shortages in the information technology field, medical/healthcare related, and advanced precision manufacturing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  The NorthEast Tennessee Technical Skills Training Initiative, utilizing industry clusters, presents an innovative approach to eliminating occupational skills shortages existing in Northeast Tennessee.  Representatives from 12 partnering companies, one-third of which are small businesses and two female/minority-owned  companies, have identified skill shortages existing within their industries.  Access to higher education and technical skill training provides the means to enable this region to

meet the training and hiring needs of employers in the new economic reality.

KEY PARTICIPANTS:  East Tennessee State University, Northeast State Technical Community College, Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, Virginia Highlands Community College and University of Tennessee.  Also included are:  Mountain States Health Alliance, Appalachia Business Communications, Frontier Health, Sean Mullins, D.D.S., Sprint, Robinette Company, Williamette Industries, Eastman Chemical, BAE Ordnance Systems, Net-Choice, Cush Industries and Banta Southeastern.

MEDIA CONTACT:  David Shanks

                                      423-547-7500