Florence-Darlington Tech, others land $4.3 million jobs grant

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., joined Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis in announcing $4.3 million in federal job-creation money for Florence-Darlington Technical College and partners Northeastern Technical College, Progress Energy Carolina, Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, Marlboro County Adult and Community Center, and Pee Dee Workforce Investment Board.
Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence will receive $4,346,351 to expand the capacity of two local community and technical colleges in order to provide training, placement and support services to prepare workers in northeastern South Carolina for employment in the electric power industry.
Spratt said the funds — from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — will provide job training in the electricity sector for some 3,800 students.
“This grant comes under the Recover Act, and will be a boost to the Pee Dee’s economy in the short run, but more importantly, it will prepare workers in the Pee Dee for highly skilled jobs in the electricity sector where they will be needed in the near future,” Spratt said. “I am pleased to see this grant come through. It’s another example of the Recovery Act coming home to help us.”
The “Power Up Pee Dee” project will expand the capacity of the two technical colleges in order to provide training, placement, and support services to prepare workers in northeastern South Carolina for employment in the electric power industry. FDTC will implement a systems-and solutions-based approach to develop new curriculum and competency-based certificates, purchase specialized equipment, and provide both online and distance learning.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced more than $225 million in health care and high growth training grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will allow community colleges, community-based organizations, state work force agencies and other public entities to deliver training that leads to employment in a range of health care fields and other growing industries. With the announcement, organizations in all 50 states have received a share of nearly $750 million in competitive grant funding made available through the Department of Labor.
“The Recovery Act’s investments are making a positive difference in the lives of America’s working families,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The Recovery Act funded grants announced today will ensure thousands of workers across the nation can receive high-quality training and employment services, which will lead to good jobs in health care and other industries offering career-track employment and good pay and benefits.”
While grantees will serve a wide range of workers, each project will focus on targeted regional populations. About $25 million is reserved for projects serving communities impacted by automotive industry restructuring.
“With these funds announced (Friday), workers in communities hardest hit by auto layoffs will receive additional resources to help them prepare for and find new jobs,” said Dr. Edward Montgomery, executive director of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers. “The president and the administration remain committed to supporting auto communities and their workers.” Auto communities benefitting from these programs are listed in the grant summaries found at http://www.doleta.gov/factsheet/ARRA_Health_and_Other.pdf.
The announcement marks the sixth and final round of competitive grants made available for employment and training through the Recovery Act. Projects funded through these grants will be conducted in partnership with the public workforce system, businesses and other organizations to guarantee that training leads to jobs. For more information on the range of Department of Labor Employment and Training programs, visit http://www.doleta.gov.