SHAHEEN: JOB CORPS CENTER A CRITICAL INVESTMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S LOW-INCOME YOUTH, ECONOMIC FUTURE

In a culmination of fifteen years of bipartisan work, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today celebrated the new Manchester Job Corps Center with a bipartisan coalition of federal and local officials at a ceremonial groundbreaking event. Shaheen was joined by Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Governor Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) and Mayor Ted Gatsas where the group celebrated the investments in New Hampshire’s youth and economic future that the groundbreaking represented.  Once complete, the center will provide low-income youth with education and job training to build successful careers in today’s economy. 

“Today is a great day for Manchester youth and New Hampshire’s economy,” said Senator Shaheen. “The Manchester Job Corps Center will equip low-income youth with the skills they need to be successful in the workplace. The result will pay dividends for not only these young people but for our economy as a whole.”

“This groundbreaking ceremony represents the culmination of 15 years of bipartisan work. Everyone involved in this effort should be incredibly proud of what we’re doing for New Hampshire youth and what this Job Corps Center represents for our economic future,” Shaheen added.

The rigorous Job Corps program, which requires that participants abstain from alcohol and illegal drug use and also complete vocational training or receive a GED while enrolled, has been remarkably successful since its creation.  Last year, 75% of the program’s graduates were either successfully placed in a job or are currently pursuing higher education.

Over the past 15 years, Senator Shaheen has led bipartisan efforts to build the new Job Corps Center in Manchester.  As Governor, she 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 Workforce Opportunity Council to submit the proposal to the Department of Labor in 2001. In the Senate, Shaheen has continued her leadership on the project’s development and construction. Recently, she secured report language in an appropriations bill for construction of the project. The bill was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee in July.

Since its inception in 1964, over two million youth have received academic and career training through Job Corps. The Manchester Job Corps Center, which will provide educational opportunities youth ages 16 to 24, is scheduled to be completed in December 2014 and enroll 150 students by June 2015. The Manchester Job Corps Center will provide vocational instruction in the advanced manufacturing, construction, health care, homeland security, hospitality and information technology industries.