February 4, 2009 Sandy Smith, Marketing Coordinator sandy.smith@chattanoogastate.edu (423) 697-3159

Department of Labor Awards Training Grant

The Department of Labor recently announced the award of a more than 1.96 million dollar grant to the Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETDD). The funds are to be dedicated to regional expansion by providing training for high growth careers. According to the grant’s author, Stephen Dunn, Workforce Investment Act manager with the SETDD, “This whole grant was formulated with employers in the Southeast Tennessee Development District, Chattanooga State Technical Community College and the Tennessee Technology Centers (TTC) at Chattanooga and Athens.”

The grant provides training for high demand and well paying jobs in advanced manufacturing and welding. Advanced manufacturing includes the emerging energy industry, tackling the needs of the nuclear energy sector in particular. In addition, the grant makes training available for welders to address the dearth of qualified welders in this region area capable of performing on the level required by advanced manufacturing.

Chattanooga State and the TTC at Athens were chosen as training providers for the grant. “Grant funding will be used for capacity building (of related programs) at those institutions,” says Mr. Dunn. The TTC at Athens receives approximately $200,000. The rest goes to instruction, supplies, equipment and project support staff at Chattanooga State.

The grant funding will be available until 2012. The total expected outcome for both Chattanooga State and the Tennessee Technology Center at Athens is 500 graduates in advanced manufacturing and welding with credentials leading to a certificate, apprenticeship or associate degree.