WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $1 million to James A. Rhodes State College in Lima to create hands-on and work-based advanced manufacturing training programs. James A. Rhodes State College is part of an 11-member consortium of Ohio colleges led by Lorain County Community College that received $15 million in total. These programs will serve workers who are eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) that helps workers who lost their jobs due to unfair foreign trade. The amounts awarded to each participating college are as follows:

College

City

Award Amount ($)

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati

1,000,000

Cuyahoga Community College

Cleveland

855,396

Columbus State Community College

Columbus

1,000,000

Sinclair Community College

Dayton

1,000,000

Owens Community College

Findlay

1,000,000

Lakeland Community College

Kirtland

1,000,522

James A. Rhodes State College

Lima

1,000,000

Lorain County Community College

Elyria

5,144,094

Stark State College

North Canton

1,000,000

Eastern Gateway Community College

Steubenville

999,988

Zane State College

Zanesville

1,000,000

“The loss of a job can be a devastating experience,” Brown said.  “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. This new funding will help James A. Rhodes State College develop curriculum and hands-on training programs that prepare jobless workers for careers in the manufacturing field.”

TAA helps workers who lose their jobs or have their hours reduced as a result of unfair trade train for new employment. Through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program, DOL awards funds to community colleges to develop education and career training programs for eligible TAA workers. Qualified workers receive the training required for high-skill, high-wage jobs.

Brown has been working to create manufacturing jobs across Ohio. The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI) – which passed the House of Representatives this month – would bring together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies, and all levels of government, to accelerate manufacturing innovation in technologies with commercial applications. RAMI would create thousands of high-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs while enhancing the United States’ role as the world’s leader in advanced manufacturing.

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