FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 23, 2010

Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County ● 4025 West Noble, Suite A ● Visalia, CA ● 93277 ● T: (559) 713‐5200 ● F: (559) 713‐5263 

For more information: Adam Peck, 559.713.5200, apeck@tularewib.org

Central Valley Awarded $8.2 Million for Workforce Development

Funds will help train laid-off workers for ‘high-demand, high-wage’ careers

Visalia, CA — The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB)

announced today the awarding of $8,197,000 for the San Joaquin Valley to train laid-off

workers in “high-demand, high-wage” industries. The funding comes from the U.S.

Department of Labor’s National Emergency Grant (NEG) allocation.

“The grant will assist both workers who have been laid off and those facing

dislocations in the near future,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

The funds will be awarded to the Central California Workforce Collaborative

(CCWC), a partnership comprising all the WIB’s of the Central Valley. The CCWC

meets regularly to discuss common issues, develop strategies to address regional

problems, and collaborate of projects of mutual benefit, such as the NEG grant.

Steve Worthley, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, said the

grant is especially welcome news.

"We welcome funding that can help people who have been hit the hardest by this

economy - the folks who have lost their jobs," Worthley said. "This funding represents

an opportunity for them to learn new skills and be productive again. The Board is also

happy that our local Workforce Investment Board was able to play a key role in the team

effort by the Central Valley Workforce Collaborative to jumpstart our regional economy."

     Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County ● 4025 West Noble ● Suite A ● Visalia, CA ● 93277 ● T: (559) 713‐5200 ● F: (559) 713‐5263 

“This regional grant application has been in development for a few months, and

only through the teamwork of the CCWC were we able to make this happen,” said

Adam Peck, Executive Director of the WIB. “Helping dislocated workers shift into high-

wage, high-demand careers will provide a long-term benefit to the Central Valley.”

The grant will focus in providing training and transition services to workers

impacted by widespread layoffs resulting from the economic downturn. Funding will

help workers prepare for careers in growing areas of the regional economy including

agri-business, renewable energy, logistics/distribution, health care, and advanced

manufacturing.

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