WASHINGTON, D.C. – New federal resources will allow Columbus State Community College to expand its jobs training programs for unemployed workers. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) funding will provide Columbus State with nearly $1.4 million as part of a 12-college, multi state grant for unemployed workers to earn certificates and on-the-job training in supply chain management. The resources will help serve veterans, long-term unemployed, and workers who lost their jobs due to unfair foreign trade—and are eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

“Ohioans who work hard and play by the rules should not be left to struggle when they lose their job through no fault of their own,” Brown said. “This new funding will help Columbus State develop curriculum and hands-on training programs that prepare veterans and jobless workers for careers in the rapidly-growing field of supply chain management.”

Brown is the author of the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, which would help ensure that Ohioans have the skills to qualify for new, good-paying positions and that businesses can hire from a local, skilled workforce. The SECTORS Act tailors workforce development to the needs of regional industry, allowing more workers to receive placements and attracting more businesses to a given region. The bill would organize stakeholders connected to a regional industry—businesses, unions, education and training providers, and local workforce and education system administrators—to develop plans for growing that industry. A range of groups are supporting the SECTORS Act, including the National Association of Manufacturers, which asked Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee leadership to include Brown’s legislation in larger job training legislation. The SECTORS Act was also included in the Building a Stronger America Act, a bipartisan bill introduced this month that is aimed at strengthening American manufacturing, exports, and competitiveness.

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a federal program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose work hours and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. The program extends benefits including training for employment in another job or career, income support, job search allowances, and relocation allowances. Qualified workers may quickly return to employment through a combination of these services.

Columbus State Community College is part of a consortium application for Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) funding with Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL as lead applicant. The total grant awarded is $24,513,413.65. The TAACCCT program is aimed at helping adults acquire the skills, degrees, and credentials needed for high-wage, high-skill employment while also meeting the needs of employers for skilled workers. The Department is implementing the TAACCCT program in partnership with the Department of Education.

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