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Landrieu Announces $2.4M Job Training Grant for Delgado Community College
[September 29, 2014]

Landrieu Announces $2.4M Job Training Grant for Delgado Community College


(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The office of Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced a $2.4 million job training grant to Delgado Community College, which will be used to partner with leading IT and cybersecurity employers to develop career training programs that will give students a shot at high-quality, high-paying jobs in the technology, cybersecurity and energy industries.



Delgado Community College will spearhead a project called Scale-Up Southeast Louisiana, which will engage students in academic reading, writing and math skills in the context of real world applications in manufacturing and energy. Partner employers will contribute to program design, implementation, and continuous improvement; provide employment and work-based training opportunities; and resources such as equipment, facilities and instructors. The program expects to train 1,150 students over the next three years for jobs in welding, machining, electrical and industrial maintenance.

In July, Sen. Landrieu wrote a letter to Steven Rietzke of the U.S. Department of Labor's Grant Management office expressing her support for Delgado's Scale-Up Southeast Louisiana project. Read the letter online here.


This grant award is part of a larger grant announcement announced by Vice President Biden, Secretary Thomas E. Perez, and Secretary Arne Duncan earlier today in which 270 community colleges around the country received a total of $450 million in job-driven training grants. The funding is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) competitive grant program, which is co-administered by the Department of Labor and Department of Education.

"As technology rapidly evolves, we must continue teaching students the necessary skills to fill those jobs and give them a shot at success--no matter where they come from," said Sen. Landrieu. "The TAACCCT program allows community colleges in Louisiana to expand their career development curriculums and partner with local industry leaders like ExxonMobil, Laitram, U.S. Heritage Powersports, Lockheed Martin and Phillips66 to give students a robust learning experience and prepare them for demanding jobs in the energy, technology and cybersecurity sectors. We must continue to invest in partnerships like these to train the next generation of workers in Southeast Louisiana." "Louisiana is on the cusp of extraordinary economic growth. Key to this growth is our ability to train and produce skilled workers in high demand, high wage fields for our industry partners," said Dr. Monty Sullivan, President of Louisiana's Community and Technical Colleges. "Today's TAACCCT grant announcement couldn't have come at a more opportune time, as Louisiana's community and technical colleges work daily to meet the needs of industries and our citizens. Congratulations to Delgado Community College. We are excited about this investment in the people of Louisiana." "Delgado Community College accepts these federal funds with gratitude to all those involved. The award will increase our capacity in ongoing efforts to assist key industries in developing a well-prepared workforce in the New Orleans area, which enhances the economy and improves the quality of life in our region," said Joan Y. Davis, Chancellor of Delgado Community College.

Building on the strategies advanced in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, these types of job-driven training partnerships were also identified in the Vice President's job-driven training report released in July as an important way to successfully prepare and place workers in jobs that pay a middle class wage.

During the last several years, Sen. Landrieu has worked to secure funding and policies necessary to expand the cybersecurity workforce in Louisiana. Earlier this year, she secured $757 million for cybersecurity programs as part of the Senate bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2015. This significant level of funding will help grow Louisiana's I-20 Tech Corridor, create cybersecurity jobs and help keep the nation safe from ever-increasing cyber threats. The funding also includes $15.8 million for cybersecurity education programs like the one the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) in Bossier City, La., which has been operating as an integral part in the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to develop a future skilled workforce.

TNS30VitinMar-140930-4879065 30VitinMar (c) 2014 Targeted News Service

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