GRANTEE:                   Keane, Inc.

ADDRESS:                  100 City Square

                             Boston, MA 02129

AMOUNT:                    $3,000,000

DURATION:                January 5, 2004 - January 5, 2007 (36 months)

POPULATION SERVED:  This project proposes to train 800 (approximately 730 employed and 70 unemployed) professionals in the industries of high-level Information Technology (IT) and Advanced Engineering/Manufacturing skills.  The training will span 10 states (CO, CA, IL, IN, IA, TX, MA, NH, NC, and GA).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  By forming the US Technology Advantage consortium, the companies seek to leverage their private sector investment with the public sector to upgrade the specific technical skills of their employees and unemployed professionals.  The project will achieve this goal by training previously degreed (90 percent with at least a bachelor’s in a related field) individuals in specific high technology areas in which they are lacking knowledge and experience.  These training areas are identified by the partnering employers and from those employers’ previous H-1B visa applications.  The program will award industry accepted certifications that best fit the specialized areas identified by partnering employers.  Training will consist of instructor led classroom training, training labs and simulations, computer-based learning portals, webinars, mentoring, and on-the-job training. 

Partnering employers will provide $3,135,981 in match in both training wages ($2,167,096) and direct training investments ($925,685).   

The projected outcomes for this project include 80 percent of the unemployed workers will gain employment, 90 percent of the incumbent workers will receive a wage increase ranging from two percent – seven percent.  Ninety percent of all participants will complete training; half of those completers will receive formal industry recognized certifications.

Selection for participation in this project is based on an individual’s educational level, occupation, IT and/or engineering related skills gap and their ability to benefit.  This will be determined using interviews, questionnaires, skill assessments, job history as identified on resumes, performance on previous assignments, and/or external assessments.

KEY PARTICIPANTS:  Keane, Caterpillar, Celestica, TrainingTrack (Boston University affiliate), Workforce Designs, Larimer County Workforce Centers, Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network, Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center, Cook County President’s Office of Employment and Training, Indianapolis Private Industry Council, Burlington Workforce Center, NH Workforce Opportunity Council, City of Durham, Dallas County WDB, Boston WIB. 

MEDIA CONTACT:    Nicole McKenzie

                            (603) 776-4277