Emporia – Flint Hills Technical College is one of seven consortium partners to be awarded a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support the collaborative efforts of community and technical colleges in Kansas to provide workers with academic and industry-recognized credentials and training to meet the need for a skilled workforce.
The grant will also expand and improve the provision of training opportunities to a large geographical pool of eligible applicants. The training programs will be student-, worker- and employer-centered, rather than centered with an institution.
Washburn Institute of Technology will serve as the consortium leader for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant.
Other members in the TRAC-7 consortium include Cloud County Community College, Concordia; Dodge City Community College: Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia; Garden City Community College; Highland Community College; and Salina Area Technical College.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to bring one of FHTC’s signature programs, power plant technology, to the partnership of the seven institutions. Our expertise in this area will allow the consortium to provide this training throughout the state and nation.
The end result is more jobs and employable students for the industry,” said Dr. Dean Hollenbeck, president of FHTC.
For the project, the power plant technology program at Flint Hills Technical College will utilize the $2,522,000 to expand and train entry-level operators in the field of power plant generation using industry recognized credentials and industry driven competencies. The program will use regional training sites, face-to-face blended learning, modular curriculum, and technology enabled learning to produce stackable credentials.
The grant announcement represents an initial round of community college and career training funds, which are being awarded to 32 grantees across the nation. The U.S. Department of Labor is implementing and administering the program in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education.
Workforce development has strong roots in Kansas. The Kansas Board of Regents works closely with the Kansas Department of Commerce through the Regents Kansas Postsecondary Technical Education Authority to ensure the education and training efforts of the state support individuals, businesses and communities in achieving economic prosperity. Such programs underpin the nation’s ability to be competitive in preparing for a global workforce market.
This project represents a significant numbers of partners across the state, but several employer partners have specifically committed to supporting it by providing supplies and materials, internships, field training, hiring opportunities and/or serving as consultants on the program advisory boards: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Atchison Hospital, Westar Energy Inc, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation, Ventira Bio Science, Sunflower Electrical Power Corporation, City of Arkansas City and Tyson Fresh Meats. Jill Biden; U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis; and Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter announced the grant award through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program.
The grants are part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, for which the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act included a total of $2 billion over a four-year period. This grant merges the efforts of the U. S. Department of Labor and the U. S. Department of Education toward the common goal of putting Americans to work.
sail (anonymous) says...
Great job,now thats good news ,the tech col is a big deal.
September 28, 2011 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jamesbordonaro (James Bordonaro) says...
A brief review of HCERA on Wikipedia will demonstrate that this money was part of the OBAMACARE that Republicans claim to detest.
Come on everybody...you can say it. "Thank you, President Obama!"
September 28, 2011 at 8:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
James,
Please tell me you are not that ignorant?
Stupid
Tired?
September 28, 2011 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
GOOD DEAL FH Vo-tech. to hell with him. JMO (I still don't discuss politics on forum)
September 28, 2011 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
James, I apologize for the above, very rude of me.
September 29, 2011 at 6 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
James, I feel we need more " Hands on Education". Vo Tech schools are one of the answers, OTJ training will work also. I think its Wonderful that FHTC got a grant. But for thanking HIM. :(
September 29, 2011 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The people who really need to be thanked are the taxpayers !!!
September 29, 2011 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Oh for crying out loud you people. Picking on James for telling the truth? Have you neither the time nor the inclination to look up the facts? Damn I hate it when people never take off their political blinders!
" [HCERA] combines revised portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) with the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Among other things, HCERA revokes the authority to originate or insure new federal loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) after June 30, 2010 and increases the mandatory funds for Pell Grant maximum awards."
Thanks to the administrators of the Voc Tech school who had the good sense and general wherewithall to apply for the federal grant.
September 29, 2011 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create,
From what I heard on kvoe the voc tech school did not apply for this grant. While it is good news that they got the money, and I am sure it will help. I did not mean to be rude to James last night, but I won't thank the president for spending my tax dollars, thank you very much. Your quote above is government speak for "spending taxpayer dollars", plain and simple. At least the Emporia area got a little back this time.
September 29, 2011 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )