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U.S. Secretary of Labor Announces Grant of More Than $1.3 Million to Train Workers in the Transportation Industry in Arkansas

Posted on: Tuesday, 13 February 2007, 15:00 CST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a grant of $1,350,655 to train workers for careers in Arkansas' growing transportation and logistics industry. The grant is being awarded to the state of Arkansas through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative, a strategic plan to prepare workers for jobs in vital industries.

"This program is a collaborative effort to provide workers with the skills needed to succeed in Arkansas' growing transportation industry," said Secretary Chao. "This $1.3 million grant will provide Delta region workers with transportation industry career opportunities, support an apprenticeship program and boost education training services."

The grant, awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, will provide workers in the Arkansas Delta region with transportation industry career opportunities as professional drivers and open an entry point into a career pathway. Additionally, the project will increase the capacity of education in the region, especially at Mid-South Community College, and support development of a registered apprenticeship program for truck drivers.

As a result of this project, 150 commercial truck drivers will be trained with an emphasis on underemployed and unemployed workers.

Industry partners include ABF Freight System Inc.; Covenant; P.A.M. Transport; Stevens Transport; TransAm; USA Truck; Werner Enterprises; and YRC Worldwide Inc. Additional partners include Mid-South Community College; Roadmaster Truck Drivers School; the Teamsters National Education and Training Fund; and the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board; Eastern Arkansas Workforce Investment Board; and local One-Stop Career Centers.

"As a transportation and logistics hub, the Arkansas Delta region faces a critical need for talent development in this sector," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "This project serves as a tool to help the Arkansas Delta make its regional economy a center where innovation in this sector can thrive."

The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers to take advantage of opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Working with industry leaders, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified and solutions are created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. For more information, please visit http://www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/.

U.S. Labor Department (DOL) releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. DOL is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

CONTACT: Peggy Abrahamson, +1-202-693-7909, David James, +1-202-693-4676, both of the U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Labor

CONTACT: Peggy Abrahamson, +1-202-693-7909, David James,+1-202-693-4676, both of the U.S. Department of Labor

Web site: http://www.dol.gov/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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