Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2010

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $2.7 MILLION COMING TO THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD OF HERKIMER, MADISON, AND ONEIDA COUNTIES FOR HEALTH CARE JOB TRAINING

Over Two Years, Workforce Investment Board Expects to Train More Than 2,400 Workers for Health Care Sector Jobs

Funding Comes From American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Schumer: Grant Will Create Stable, High Paying Jobs For Workers Across Central New York and the Mohawk Valley

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida Counties has received a grant of $2,700,096 from the U.S. Department of Labor for health care sector job training. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and is part of the DOL Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries Grant Program. The Workforce Investment Board will use the grant to advance its Mohawk Valley Health Care Career Pipeline Project.

“Right now, our first priority must be jobs, jobs, jobs. And this type of training will put people in stable, good-paying jobs, something that will help their families and help our economy,” said Schumer. “This is a great opportunity to give both students and unemployed workers a future in a growing industry.”

With this Recovery Act grant, the Mohawk Valley Health Care Career Pipeline Project will connect the benefits of the booming health care sector with the region’s high-poverty population. It will train 2,400 workers at local colleges in certification courses for entry level positions and degree programs that provide a pathway to steady careers offering good pay in local hospitals, long-term care facilities, and health care employers. The Workforce Investment Board expects that over two years, 2,415 individuals will enter training, 2,175 will complete the process, and 1,935 will be placed into jobs.

Through the Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries Grant Program, the Department of Labor is investing in job training programs that prepare workers for careers in health care, IT, and biotechnology. Employment growth in these industries (particularly in health care) will be driven by the significant demand increases of an aging population and projected retirements for the current workforce. Additionally, the program includes funding to provide current employees a pathway to career advancement in high-tech fields that require new skill sets. A total of $226 million is going to 55 recipients across the nation in various types of job-creating educational programs.

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