NEW HAMPSHIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION FOR MANCHESTER JOB CORPS CENTER

(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and U.S. Representatives Charles F. Bass (NH-02) and Frank Guinta (NH-01) announced that a critical step has been taken toward building New Hampshire’s first Job Corps Center. The U.S. Department of Labor has decided to proceed with construction of the Manchester center. 

“By equipping our young workers with the skills needed to enter high-growth industries and compete in the global marketplace, New Hampshire’s first Job Corps Center targets the most important issue facing our nation—jobs,” Shaheen said. “I have worked to bring a Job Corps Center to New Hampshire for 10 years, since my time as Governor, and I was thrilled when Labor Secretary Hilda Solis called to give me the good news. The building of the center will also create good construction jobs in New Hampshire. I will do everything I can to see the project gets completed.” 

“This is welcome news from the Labor Department. I continue to believe that New Hampshire companies should have a level playing field to bid on this project, and I look forward to learning more about the bidding process,” Ayotte said.

“Equipping young people in New Hampshire with the skills they need to make positive and successful contributions to our state will help the private sector create jobs and grow the economy,” Bass said.

"This is good news for Manchester, good news for New Hampshire and good news for the many young Granite Staters whose lives will be better thanks to the skills they will learn at this center," Guinta said.

As Governor, Shaheen created the state’s first ever economic development plan and one of its key recommendations was pursuing a Job Corps Center.  Subsequently, Shaheen led the effort through her newly formed Workforce Opportunity Council to submit the proposal to the Department of Labor in 2001.

In recent months, the New Hampshire Congressional delegation has met and worked closely with the Department of Labor to ensure construction of the center begins as soon as possible

The new Job Corps Center will provide academic and career training to economically disadvantaged youth aged 16-24 years.  The residential education and job training facility will be focused on the fast-growing industries of homeland security, healthcare, and hospitality.