ETA News Release: [August 17, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-3984
U.S. Deputy Labor Secretary Announces Grant to Train Iowa Biotech Workers
Grant is Part of President's $17.2 Million Initiative for Biotechnology Industry Training
URBANDALE, Iowa - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven J. Law today announced a $996,250 grant to Indian Hills Community College to develop and deliver biotechnology training to workers in Iowa.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley joined Deputy Secretary Law in announcing the grant, which is part of a $17.2 million national initiative developed under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative to address job training needs for careers in the biotechnology industry.
"President Bush is committed to helping workers get training for careers in growing fields like biotechnology, which is projected to add more than 100,000 jobs by 2007," said Deputy Secretary Law. "This grant will allow Indian Hills Community College to address the need for highly skilled workers in Iowa's growing biotechnology sector."
Through this project, 100 new workers and 600 incumbent biotech workers will be eligible for training. The project also will develop industry-specific training programs for Iowa's rapidly growing ethanol industry.
Key partners in the project include Iowa Economic Development, the Iowa Biotechnology Association, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, the Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa Workforce Development, and several key Iowa biotechnology employers including Cargill, Inc., Genencor, Pioneer Hybrid International, Garst Seed, Phytodyne and Kemin Industries.
Indian Hills Community College recently joined Forsyth Community College as a partner in a $5 million biotechnology training project funded through another Labor Department grant. The grant, awarded in June of this year, supports the development of curricula and training models for biotechnology workers.
The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers to take advantage of new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through executive forums with leaders of expanding industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. More information can be found at www.doleta.gov.
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