For Immediate Release

 

Date:                May 29, 2009

Contact:            Office of Government, Policy and Public Relations

Phone:              (303) 318-8004

Fax:                  (303) 318-8070

Web:                www.coworkforce.com

 

 

GRANTS AWARDED TO STRENGTHEN TARGETED INDUSTRIES IN
REGIONS ACROSS COLORADO

Regional partners to address the link between skills development and economic development

 

(DENVER) -- Strengthening economic development is the goal of seven grants that have been awarded by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the Colorado Workforce Development Council to regions across the state.  The grants, totaling $493,390, will support start-up efforts to grow several targeted industries: health care, manufacturing hospitality and tourism, and renewable energy.

 

“Colorado faces critical workforce shortages as well as workforce skills shortages and fixing those shortfalls is not the job of one organization – or even one type of organization,” explains Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Department of Labor and Employment.  “Workforce development and economic development are critically linked and will require all stakeholders to come together.  It has to be a team effort and this seed money promotes that approach.”

 

Regions are forging partnerships with educators, economic developers, workforce professionals, businesses, and other stakeholders to find regional solutions to some of Colorado’s primary industries and the employers within them.  The grant money will allow the partners to launch a planning phase during which each region will critically assess their needs for the economic growth of the industry they have targeted.  The regions will establish relationships with multiple employers, conduct research to monitor the industry’s changing needs, coordinate community resources to address industry staffing and competitiveness needs, and invest in potential and current workers in the industry to create enhanced opportunities.

 

Mares adds that while the recipients of the grants have a major job ahead of them, they will also receive support and customized technical assistance throughout the process.  “These grants and the partnerships they support will play a major role in Governor Ritter’s ongoing efforts to lead Colorado forward.  When industries grow in Colorado, Colorado grows with them.”

 

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