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Media Relations Jenny Tinklepaugh |
Press Release Gov. Perdue Launches “12 in 6” Worker Training Initiative April 16, 2009 As part of JobsNOW, Community Colleges to offer 12 career paths taking less than 6 months
RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue today launched “12 in 6”, a workforce development initiative designed to benefit North Carolinians who have lost their jobs due to recent layoffs and plant closures or other job seekers. The initiative will create community college programs in 12 careers, each requiring less than six months to complete. The N.C. Community College System and the N.C. Department of Commerce are collaborating on the program as part of Gov. Perdue’s larger JobsNOW initiative, which focuses on job creation and economic development. The new training programs will be available at all 58 community colleges by the end of September. The state’s 24 workforce boards , JobLink Career Centers , and Employment Security Commission offices will connect job seekers with the training programs and employment opportunities. “Jobs now in North Carolina – that’s the goal. We know that people who have lost their jobs need to get back in the workforce as quickly as possible,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “This rapid training initiative provides them with a clear path to success in new, sustainable careers.” “This initiative is another strong example of how, working together, state agencies can leverage resources and federal recovery funding to serve our citizens,” she added. The 12 career areas were selected based on current and/or anticipated market demand: Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, Medical Coding, Office/Clerical Support, Masonry/Tile Cutting, Plumbing, Carpentry, Welding, Food Service, Autobody Repair, Manufacturing/Materials, and HVAC/Industrial Maintenance. Others may be added later. “The road to recovery runs through North Carolina’s community colleges,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System. “It makes perfect sense for the community colleges to work closely with the Governor in pushing her goal of getting North Carolinians back to work. The JobsNOW initiative will help our state’s workers gain employment now and as the recovery begins to gain momentum.” “North Carolina is well-known for having an outstanding workforce,” said Keith Crisco, secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce. “This program is a great way to help those who have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn and who are eager to get back to work quickly, but who may need to enhance their skills or plan to pursue a new career.” Commerce’s Workforce Development Division has allocated $13.4 million in federal recovery funds to the program and on Friday, April 17 the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges is expected to approve the funds for the “12 in 6” initiative that will go to each of the system’s community colleges. Funding is expected to be distributed to campuses on July1. Funds will be used to develop courses and materials, provide student services and assist with identifying jobs and placing new trainees in them. WakeMed’s Raleigh Hospital was the backdrop for the governor's announcement. WakeMed, which serves the Raleigh area and eastern North Carolina, is one of the area’s larger employers of health care workers, many of whom have graduated from health care education programs within the N.C. Community College System. WakeMed and other hospitals and health care facilities are expected to benefit from those who receive training as nursing assistants, phlebotomists and medical records personnel. ### About JobsNOW: 12 in 6 Responding to North Carolina’s need to get people back to work and to Governor Bev Perdue’s call that the NC Community Colleges undertake her JobsNOW initiative, the community colleges and the N.C. Department of Commerce partnered to develop and fund “12 in 6”. The project provides the infrastructure and resources necessary to help train North Carolinians in needed job skills within 6 months and help rebuild North Carolina’s economy. A reality of today’s economy is that education, training, and the pursuit of lifelong learning are essential to economic recovery. With rising unemployment rates, a greater number of North Carolina workers must be retrained to find new employment opportunities. Community colleges, already the fastest growing segment of higher education, are facing accelerated growth due to the economic downturn. This growth is evidenced by the additional 15,000 full-time equivalent students added to the state’s community college rolls since September. Additionally, community colleges are connected closely to local and regional labor markets, which position them to identify and provide training options that are accessible, low-cost, high-quality educational opportunities that prepare workers for good jobs with good wages. NCDOC’s Workforce Development Division is setting aside $13.4 million in ARRA funds to support this initiative. These grant funds will provide an infusion of instructional resources to support training activities in occupational areas that can be completed in less than 6 months. To date, the approved occupational areas include:
To meet local/regional labor market demands, colleges will have the flexibility to identify additional short-term occupational training options. Courses may be offered as a single course or may be bundled as a series of courses that will lead to a job-skills credential and the NC Career Readiness Certification. These affordable training opportunities will be short-term (1-week to 6-months) with flexible scheduling and are expected to begin in August or September. Focusing on her JobSUPPORT effort, Governor Perdue has requested that a portion of the $35 million in ARRA funds for the state’s 24 local workforce boards be designated for assistance with tuition, transportation and child care for eligible students in the JobsNOW program. Decisions on the exact amount available in each region will be left to the discretion of the local workforce board. Timeline
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