Local institutions will receive federal assistance to help
displaced workers, veterans, find jobs in advanced manufacturing

Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-17) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-18) today announced Westchester Community College and Rockland Community College will receive a total of $210,408 in federal funding to help outsourced workers and veterans gain skills to find good jobs in advanced manufacturing.

Rep. Engel said, “This grant will allow our two community colleges to provide the education and training to enable workers to find high quality jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector in two years or less. Even in these tough economic times there are jobs available, but they require advanced abilities. This is a great help to those who had their jobs outsourced, and it keeps our promise to veterans by helping them find work when they come home.”

“Helping train and educate displaced workers and veterans for careers in advanced manufacturing is a win-win for workers and for New York,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey.  “Working in advanced manufacturing requires education and skills far beyond the jobs of the past.  I am thrilled community colleges in Westchester and Rockland Counties will be at the forefront of helping workers find new careers.”

“We are excited about this grant which will allow us to develop small manufacturing skills classes. These workforce development courses will help those seeking entry level positions to gain the skills needed for local employment,” says Dr. Joseph N. Hankin, President of Westchester Community College, who will receive $149,500 in funding.  “This grant money will help us develop new services and expand upon existing services.”

President Cliff Wood of Rockland Community College, who will receive $60,908 in funding, stated, “We are delighted to be part of this exciting project, which represents new training and educational pathways for training in advanced manufacturing for TAA eligible populations in our region. It represents a significant investment in our ability to help prepare students for careers in advanced high-tech manufacturing, one of the most important economic growth sectors for our region and New York State.”

With these resources, eligible institutions of higher education will be able to expand their capacity to provide quality education and training services to individuals to improve their knowledge and skills, to enable them to obtain high-quality employment to support their families.

The schools will work with manufacturers on adapting competency skills, offer specialty curricula for these skills, and offer educational courses on-line and other alternative formats. A statewide process for training and education programs will be developed for use across all community colleges. To qualify, workers must first file a petition with the Department of Labor requesting certification as a worker adversely affected by foreign trade. 

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The grants are part of a nationwide U.S. Department of Labor award of $500 million in grant awards for the second round of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program.