SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES $100,000 FOR STATEWIDE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM

(Washington, DC)-U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced that her request to fund a portable classroom for River Valley Community College has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Shaheen secured $100,000 for River Valley Community College to expand its Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine operators training program throughout New Hampshire so that operators can obtain advanced manufacturing jobs.  The legislation will now go to the full Senate for final passage.

"This program connects people with the skills needed to be successful in a 21^st Century economy," said Shaheen. "We must continue to offer opportunities like this to create good, local jobs and to help our workforce adapt to the changing needs of the global economy."

The program matches individuals directly with advanced manufacturing jobs in their own communities by allowing them to train where they live and work.

"An important value of community colleges is our ability to respond rapidly to the needs of our constituents," said Steven Budd, president of River Valley Community College. "With this funding, we will equip a mobile machine tool classroom that will bring River Valley Community College's accelerated machine tool technology program to employer sites throughout New Hampshire.  Our goal is to provide quality education and training in a format, schedule, and location that connects employers with work-ready employees."   

River Valley Community College will be able to expand existing skills training programs across the state with the addition of portable machine equipment. In a three year period this enhanced program will educate, train and upgrade skills for up to 150 unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers.

The funding was approved by the Appropriations Committee as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which includes $3,854,000 for projects in New Hampshire.