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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium
Grant Announcement
Little Rock, Arkansas
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Thank you, Artee [Williams, Director, Arkansas Department of Workforce Services].
First, let me thank Governor Huckabee, for your hospitality and for your hard work in promoting job creation and economic growth for the people of Arkansas.
I'd also like to welcome representatives of the community colleges involved in this grant, including Dr. Glen Fenter of Mid-South Community College; Dr. Robert Myers of Arkansas Northeastern College; Dr. Coy Grace of East Arkansas Community College; and Dr. Steven Murray of Phillips Community College of University of Arkansas, as well as their partners from the employer community. And it's good to see U.S. Congressman Marion Berry, as well. Thank you all for coming.
Today, I am pleased to announce a grant for more than $5.9 million to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. This grant will help train workers for good jobs in Arkansas's growing automotive and advanced manufacturing industries.
Arkansas-based manufacturers are looking to hire more than 2,000 additional workers with advanced manufacturing skills. They need workers with expertise in electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, advanced welding, plastics engineering, and computer controlled machining. This grant will help 2,500 workers get training in these skills so they can access these great new opportunities
By helping Arkansas, we are also helping to close the skills gap in America. Employers across the nation tell us they can't find enough workers with the skills needed for jobs in advanced manufacturing and other growth sectors. It's a challenge our country must overcome to remain a global leader. That's why new training programs and partnerships like this one are so important. Today's grant will help the automotive and advanced manufacturing industries in Arkansas continue to grow, so they can create more jobs here at home.
This grant is part of President George W. Bush's High Growth Job Training Initiative. It focuses on growing industries like health care, energy, information technology and construction. New jobs are being created in all of these sectors, but there is a shortage of skilled workers to fill these spots. So the High Growth Initiative funds partnerships to train workers for these good paying jobs. The initiative has invested more than $83 million for 38 projects in advanced manufacturing across the nation—including this one.
Today's grant will create the Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium, which represents many local organizations. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services joined with other state agencies and four community colleges to apply for this grant. Together, they will help ensure that workers get the training they need to access new opportunities in advanced manufacturing.
So, now, it's my pleasure to present Governor Huckabee with a check for nearly $6 million to grow opportunities for Arkansas workers.
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