News Release
ETA News Release: [December 31, 2003]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-3984
Labor Department Awards $3 Million To Chicago Technology Park For High-Tech Training
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has awarded $3 million to the Chicago Technology Park Corporation to upgrade the skills of 150 incumbent high-tech workers and train 60 unemployed information technology workers in BioInformatics occupations.
"This Administration is committed to helping workers get the training they need to get good paying jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This $3 million grant will be used to upgrade the skills of workers."
Chicago Technology Park will use the Labor Department grant to combine workforce-based classes in cellular/molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology with industry internships. Training will be provided through intensive laboratory classes, e-learning and online instruction.
"This grant illustrates the kind of workforce development partnerships we are encouraging to address the challenges facing 21st century businesses," said Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "When businesses identify the skills their workforce needs, educators and our public workforce system can be key players in preparing workers for the highly skilled jobs in high-demand fields."
This grant and others totaling approximately $49 million were awarded competitively to business-led partnerships nationwide to train workers for high-skill, high-tech occupations.
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