Delaware Tech and Congressional Delegation
Announce $3.5 Million America’s Promise Grant
DELAWARE – On Friday, January 6, Delaware Technical Community College President Mark Brainard, Governor-elect John Carney, and U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons came together at the College’s Orlando J. George Campus in Wilmington to announce that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Education and Training Administration has awarded a four year, $3.5 million grant to Delaware Tech and its partners. The partners include the Delaware Department of Labor, Jobs for the Future, the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Economic Development Office, and the Delaware Workforce Investment Board.
The America’s Promise Grant program was designed to create or expand regional partnerships between employers, economic development, workforce development, community colleges, training programs, K12 education systems and community-based organizations that make a commitment – or a “promise” – to provide a pipeline of workers to fill existing job openings, meet existing employer needs for expansion, fuel the talent needs of entrepreneurs, and attract more jobs from overseas.
Delaware Tech, with the support of the Delaware Department of Labor, Jobs for the Future, and other partners will provide tuition to students who enroll in one of nine certification programs in the fields of IT or manufacturing. “Our goal is to help approximately 600 unemployed or underemployed Delawareans earn industry-recognized credentials that will help them move into middle and highly skilled positions that pay good salaries,” said Delaware Tech President Mark Brainard.
Individuals who enroll in one of the nine programs will have the opportunity to get on-the-job training and will be prepared to sit for certification exams once they’ve completed it.
According to Governor-elect John Carney, “Delaware Tech has done a great job educating and training students to be hardworking employees throughout our state. Employers in our state need skilled workers, and Delaware Tech will help nearly 600 students develop skills necessary to land and succeed in jobs in the future.”
“Manufacturing and IT jobs are good paying jobs, and we need more of them in Delaware and in the United States,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “That’s why I’m thrilled that Del Tech has received a $3.5 million federal grant to help its students learn skills in both of these areas. Our local employers – from our IT companies and banks, to our manufacturing companies – are in need of highly skilled workers to join their workforce. And if we have these skilled workers here, more companies will bring their good paying jobs to Delaware. This is a win-win for our students and our employers.”
“Today’s announcement is about not about jobs, but about careers, good paying careers,” said Sen. Coons. “With this grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, around 600 students at DelTech will train for jobs in the IT and advanced manufacturing spaces that need employees today. Once they earn certificates, they will have the tools in their toolbox to become marketable employees for good, high-paying jobs.”
The creation of the America’s Promise Grant is the result of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) passed in 2015. This year the Employment and Training Administration awarded grants to 23 regional workforce partnerships providing services in 28 states.
Although she was unable to attend the announcement, Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester submitted the following statement. “In an increasingly global economy, it’s absolutely critical that we invest in building a strong workforce so employers have the opportunity to hire talented workers to help their businesses grow and thrive. The Information Technology and Advanced Manufacturing industries continue to grow in Delaware as well as across the country, and I’m thrilled that the U.S. Department of Labor recognized both the importance of this grant to our workforce as well as the caliber of Delaware Tech. This grant will prepare these students for long, successful careers and help us create an environment where businesses have access to the talent they need. I want to commend my colleagues, Sens. Carper and Coons and Gov.-elect Carney, for their hard work to secure this investment, as well as to congratulate Delaware Tech and Dr. Brainard for their continued dedication to their students and community.”
Watch Video News Coverage of the America's Promise Grant