With the goal of cross-border cooperation in job training, a Bridgeport-led organization plans to begin awarding grants in June to prepare workers for careers in health care and several other industries with projected shortages in workers.
Talent for Growth CT-NY has $5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to create work force development ties between Fairfield County and Westchester County, N.Y. Under its Workforce in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) program, DOL has made a dozen such grants across the country, in addition to an earlier round of $15 million grants to various communities.
The local WIRED proposal was first organized by Joseph Carbone, CEO of The Workplace Inc., a Bridgeport-based work-force investment board (WIB) covering Fairfield County. Carbone hopes to raise additional funding from other federal agencies that have indicated a possible interest in WIRED projects, including the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation.
“I expect to grow the pot,” Carbone said. “I”™m not a small spender, but I don”™t want to waste money.”
Carbone declined to reveal the identities of finalists for WIRED funding, but said in addition to health care, $2 million in funding the first year will likely support training programs in the retail and hospitality sector, in transportation, and for expected demand for workers skilled in energy conservation.
According to an online document, 40 representatives attended a March bidder”™s conference, with participating organizations including:
Ӣ Junior Achievement chapters in Connecticut and New York;
Ӣ Literacy Volunteers of Southeastern Fairfield County;
Ӣ the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship;
Ӣ Norwalk Community College;
Ӣ Port Chester Carver Center;
Ӣ Southern Westchester BOCES;
Ӣ Westchester Community College; and
Ӣ Westchester Community Opportunity Program Inc.
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At the March conference, Talent for Growth specified that winning bids must have at least three partners and must include representation from both Southwest Connecticut and either Westchester or Putnam counties in New York. For-profit companies were allowed to bid, and those not selected for the initial year”™s round of funding are eligible to apply for funding in the second or third year of the Department of Labor”™s grant term.
Talent for Growth initially barred the Business Council of Fairfield County from seeking funding, saying it did not qualify as a relevant “industry or business entity.” Talent for Growth last week clarified its stance, with a spokeswoman indicating the business council can apply.
Talent for Growth also stated it is barring organizations targeting work-force development exclusively in Danbury from applying, as the city is not located in The Workplace”™s region of coverage in Connecticut.
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