$2.9 Million for Memphis Bioworks Foundation for Green Jobs Training Programs
January 6, 2010
The two-year initiative will fund programs to train area workers for jobs in energy-efficiency and renewable energy occupations. Memphis Bioworks Foundation is one of 25 award recipients across the United States.
“With nearly one in ten people in Shelby County looking for work, this infusion of federal funding will help them get the training they need to seek employment in the emerging ‘green’ economy,” Congressman Cohen said. “I congratulate Memphis Bioworks for receiving this grant and for their efforts to create partnerships with local community colleges, labor unions and employers to grow the bio-based production, biofuels and energy-efficient construction workforce. I was proud to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that made this funding possible.”
Dr. Steven Bares, president and executive director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation said, “We are pleased to partner with these highly-qualified educational institutions and employers in this effort to bring transformational training to the regional workforce. This multi-county, multi-state partnership is built on broad-based regional cooperation and a shared economic development goal of leadership in green industry and new jobs in the biosciences.”
U.S Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said, “Our outstanding award recipients were selected because their proposed projects will connect workers to career pathways in green industries and occupations through diverse partnerships.”
The Grant will benefit a 26-county area of West Tennessee and Arkansas through training programs for higher education organizations, employers, training providers, and workforce development agencies. In partnership with the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, key recipients include Dyersburg State Community College, Tennessee Local Workforce Investment Areas # 11, 12, and 13, the Eastern Arkansas Workforce Investment Area, Jackson State Community College, the University of Memphis BEST Program, Mid-South Community College, Seedco, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the National Electrical Contractors Association, and multiple employers.
The project will leverage existing training curricula coupled with input from employers to produce new training programs in such areas as agricultural production for biomass crops, sustainable design and construction, chemical processing, plant process operations and solar installation. Training programs will also be developed for farmers and students interested in broadening farming operations to include biomass processing and producer-to-processor supply chain management.
A renewable energy training program designed at Mid-South Community College will be used as a model for the development of training curricula at colleges in West Tennessee. With the involvement and expertise of employers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, local colleges will create models to train workers for jobs in emerging industry clusters, including the field of processing of bio-based products.
________________________
Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
steven.broderick@mail.house.gov
“With nearly one in ten people in Shelby County looking for work, this infusion of federal funding will help them get the training they need to seek employment in the emerging ‘green’ economy,” Congressman Cohen said. “I congratulate Memphis Bioworks for receiving this grant and for their efforts to create partnerships with local community colleges, labor unions and employers to grow the bio-based production, biofuels and energy-efficient construction workforce. I was proud to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that made this funding possible.”
Dr. Steven Bares, president and executive director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation said, “We are pleased to partner with these highly-qualified educational institutions and employers in this effort to bring transformational training to the regional workforce. This multi-county, multi-state partnership is built on broad-based regional cooperation and a shared economic development goal of leadership in green industry and new jobs in the biosciences.”
U.S Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said, “Our outstanding award recipients were selected because their proposed projects will connect workers to career pathways in green industries and occupations through diverse partnerships.”
The Grant will benefit a 26-county area of West Tennessee and Arkansas through training programs for higher education organizations, employers, training providers, and workforce development agencies. In partnership with the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, key recipients include Dyersburg State Community College, Tennessee Local Workforce Investment Areas # 11, 12, and 13, the Eastern Arkansas Workforce Investment Area, Jackson State Community College, the University of Memphis BEST Program, Mid-South Community College, Seedco, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the National Electrical Contractors Association, and multiple employers.
The project will leverage existing training curricula coupled with input from employers to produce new training programs in such areas as agricultural production for biomass crops, sustainable design and construction, chemical processing, plant process operations and solar installation. Training programs will also be developed for farmers and students interested in broadening farming operations to include biomass processing and producer-to-processor supply chain management.
A renewable energy training program designed at Mid-South Community College will be used as a model for the development of training curricula at colleges in West Tennessee. With the involvement and expertise of employers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, local colleges will create models to train workers for jobs in emerging industry clusters, including the field of processing of bio-based products.
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________________________
Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
steven.broderick@mail.house.gov