Fed grant boosts high-tech training program

DENVER – Several business development organizations and businesses in the Boulder Valley are partnering with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to launch a training initiative to prepare workers for high-tech jobs.

The program is being funded in part by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to train workers in information technology, advanced manufacturing, and the professional, scientific and technical services industries with a focus on aerospace.

Business associations that are involved in the program include the Longmont Area Economic Council, the Boulder Economic Council, Colorado Photonics Industry Association, the South East Business Partnership, Coolest Women We Know, Colorado Coalition for Gender in Information Technology, Colorado CleanTech Industry Association and the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology.

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Employers partnering include Boulder-based Wall Street on Demand, IBM, Allon Hill, Atlasta Solar Center, Evraz, GPS Source, Imprimis Inc., JGMS Inc., Leitner Poma, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, RK Mechanical, Trane and Wren Industries.

“Our economic recovery must focus on skills, not just jobs,´ said Ellen Golombek, executive director of the Department of Labor and Employment. “This grant – called Strategies to Advance Colorado’s Highly Skilled Workforce – is designed to help close Colorado’s growing skills gap.”

Through this initiative, businesses stand to save nearly $3 million in visa costs and approximately $2.3 million in training costs they would have paid to keep their workforce competitive.

The program will target 797 workers statewide, upgrading their skills in information technology, advanced manufacturing and STEM (scientific, technology, engineering and mathematics) capabilities. Of the individuals selected, 558 will be incumbent workers whose skills need upgrading to ensure they stay employed. The grant will also speed the rehire of 239 long-term unemployed workers. A priority of service will be offered to veterans, minorities and women.

Other partnering groups include Colorado’s Workforce Development Council, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Department of Higher Education and the Department of Human Services), Colorado Community College system and the University of Denver Women’s College.