Sherri Johnson
(919) 733-5612
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 15, 2004
Governor Easley Announces $1 Million Incentive Grant Award
to North Carolina to Train Biotechnology Workers
Raleigh, NC - Gov. Mike Easley today announced that North Carolina will receive a $1 million incentive grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for exceeding federal performance levels in three separate workforce programs. The N. C. Community College System, N.C. Department of Public Instruction and N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Employment and Training each exceeded performance goals while administering federal workforce programs during fiscal year 2002-2003. The grant money will be used to train workers in biotechnology, which is one of the state's fastest growing high-tech industries.
"North Carolina's investments in our educational system, infrastructure and workforce are paying off," said Easley. "North Carolina is a national leader in biotechnology and is the only state in the country to invest in a statewide Biotech Training Center. These funds will help us in our efforts to prepare our workforce for the high-tech, knowledge-based jobs of today and tomorrow."
The biotechnology project funded by the grant award will link the activities of the Community College System, Department of Public Instruction and Department of Commerce's Division of Employment and Training to provide awareness, education and training in the biotechnology field to high school students, youth dropouts, dislocated workers and other adults.
The biotechnology project includes:
- A biotechnology career guidance publication to provide students, parents, teachers and counselors with information about biotechnology-related careers and how to prepare for them.
- A "Biotechnology Pathways to Employment" learning model will be developed for use in GED and adult education classes. This model will educate and prepare older youth and adults for entry into a community college for intensive training. Through the Department of Commerce, local workforce development boards will assist in outreach efforts and the state's JobLink Career Centers will refer people to the program and help graduates find employment.
- A customized instructional program focused on career exploration, basic skills attainment and occupational training for careers related to the biotechnology field. The Community College System, through its Bionetwork, will implement the program.
- Partnering high school students with experienced mentors who will provide instruction to improve their performance. The Department of Public Instruction will use a portion of the grant funds to develop this program.
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