LUCASVILLE, OH - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited the Scioto County Career and Technical Center, a clean energy jobs training site, in Lucasville today. The Ohio GROWS (Green and Renewable Opportunities for Workers) project recently received nearly $5 million in new federal funds which will help train workers for jobs in the clean energy industry. Brown toured the facility and spoke with trainees.

"Across Ohio and right here in Lucasville, entrepreneurs and businesses are leading the way in clean energy innovation that will create clean energy jobs. These are the jobs that will rebuild American manufacturing," Brown said. "We simply cannot replace our dependence on foreign oil with a dependence on foreign-made clean energy technologies. Programs like the Ohio GROWS training project can help position Ohio as a leader in clean energy jobs and ensure that our state emerges from this recession better prepared for the 21st-century economy."

The Ohio GROWS project will provide clean energy jobs training to nearly 1,300 workers at 19 sites across Ohio, including the Scioto County Career and Technical Center. The Ohio GROWS program works in conjunction with local Jobs and Family Services offices to help transition dislocated workers-many of whom work in communities that have been significantly affected by the restructuring of the auto industry-into clean energy jobs. Trainees will receive a nationally-recognized certificate from the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as college credits through the University System of Ohio.

Brown also discussed his Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, which passed the House of Representatives this week. This bill is aimed at creating jobs in high-growth, regional industries-like clean energy in Northwest Ohio-by addressing the disparity between high unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers for many emerging industries. Despite Ohio's 10.5 percent unemployment rate, there is still demand in today's labor market for skilled workers. To address this disparity, the SECTORS Act provides grants for sector partnerships among institutions of higher education, industry, organized labor, and workforce boards.

Brown's legislation, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2010, would help ensure that dislocated workers can get the skills and training they need to fill jobs in emerging industries-like clean energy and biotechnology-that are growing in importance to Ohio's economy. A summary of the bill can be found here.

Brown's visit to Lucasville is part of his "Made in Ohio Tour," that kicked-off last week. With job creation as the top priority, Brown is fighting for a multi-pronged effort to promote economic development - from working to position Ohio as the Silicon Valley of Clean Energy Manufacturing, to establishing the state as a hub for high-growth industries. The key components of Senator Brown's jobs strategy are:

  • Promoting the expansion of Ohio businesses by strengthening small business lending programs and aiding President Obama's goal to significantly boost U.S. exports.
  • Transitioning away from our dependence on foreign oil to a clean energy future in which jobs are centered in the small businesses, manufacturing facilities, and universities of Ohio.
  • Developing Ohio's workforce so that Ohioans are prepared to fill the jobs of the 21st century and revitalizing the state's infrastructure to attract those global industries.
  • Making sure that Ohio industry isn't undermined due to unfair trade by pursuing remedies to counteract China's currency manipulation and subsidization of domestic industries.

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