ETA New Releases, Employment & Training Administration (ETA)

ETA News Release: [July 13, 2006]
Contact Name: Mike Volpe or David James
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984 (202) 693-4676

Labor Department Presents Third Recognition of Excellence Honors

Recipients Showcased at Workforce Innovations 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco presented the third annual Recognition of Excellence (ROE) honors in Anaheim this week at Workforce Innovations 2006. These honors recognize talent development programs from around the nation that have achieved outstanding success. This year's five awardees come from Sacramento, Calif.; Decatur, Ga.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Circleville, Ohio; and Washington, D.C.

"Recognition of Excellence honorees are proof of the workforce system's capacity to develop new and innovative approaches for preparing workers to compete in the global economy," said DeRocco. "Every year, ROE honorees offer examples of education and job training programs that meet the needs of local and regional economies and can be replicated throughout the country."

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) presents ROE honors in five categories. The "Educating America's 21st Century Workforce" category recognizes innovative and effective strategies to prepare workers for the challenges that require higher skills and more education.

Honorees in the "Building an Industry/Business-Driven Workforce Investment System" category respond to the needs of business, while preparing a skilled workforce for continued job growth.

"Recognizing the Demographics of the Workforce," the third category, highlights organizations that effectively address the critical need to find ways to integrate every available worker into the labor force. Honorees in this category provide effective services to individuals with disabilities, those with limited English proficiency, homeless individuals, migrant farm workers and others.

The "Serving Out-of-School Youth" category recognizes innovative techniques and collaboration with businesses, industry and essential partners in workforce and economic development to solve the education, training and hiring challenges of preparing out-of-school youth and young adults.

The final category, "e3 Partnerships," recognizes the value of projects that demonstrate sustained partnerships among employers, educators and economic development leaders, a practice ETA calls the "Power of e3."

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NOTE: A complete list of honorees and honorable mentions is attached.

ETA Recognition of Excellence Honorees and Honorable Mentions

CATEGORY 1: Educating America's 21st Century Workforce - This category recognizes innovative and effective strategies to prepare workers for the challenges that require higher skills and more education.

Winner: Ohio University-Chillicothe/Berger Health System Associate Degree Nursing Program - Circleville, Ohio
Honorable Mention: National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce - Winston Salem, N.C.
Honorable Mention: New Americans in Nursing - Miami, Fla.

CATEGORY 2: Building an Industry/Business Driven Workforce Investment System - The honorees in this category respond to the needs of business, while preparing a skilled workforce for continued job growth.

Winner: Regional Nurse Support (RNS) - Sacramento, Calif.
Honorable Mention: Business Enhancement Services and Training - Hillsdale, Mich.
Honorable Mention: Skills Enhancement Training Alliance - Dallas, Texas

CATEGORY 3: Recognizing Special Populations in the Workforce - This category highlights organizations that effectively address the critical need to find ways to integrate every available worker into the labor force.

Winner: Project Empowerment Plus - Washington, D.C.
Honorable Mention: School at Work -- Building a Career Ladder in Healthcare - Louisville, Ky.
Honorable Mention: Threshold Project - Indianapolis, Ind.

CATEGORY 4: Serving Out-of-School Youth - This category recognizes innovative techniques and collaboration with business, industry and essential partners in workforce and economic development to solve the education, training and hiring challenges of serving out-of-school youth and young adults.

Winner: Youth Achievement Program - Decatur, Ga.
Honorable Mention: Pharmacy Technician Program for At-Risk, Out-of-School Youth - Hartford, Conn.
Honorable Mention: Project CEO - Dallas, Texas

CATEGORY 5: e3 Partnerships - This category confers value in projects that demonstrate sustained partnerships among employers, educators and economic development leaders - ETA's "Power of e3."

Winner: Manpower Inc.'s Tech Reach - Albuquerque, N.M.
Honorable Mention: Marion Technical Institute - Ocala, Fla.
Honorable Mention: Pierce County Construction Council - Tacoma, Wash.
Honorable Mention: Upgrading the Nation's Automotive Programs - Kenosha, Wis.

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