NEW: Mayor Taveras Calls on Congress to Preserve Job Training Funds
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Mayor Angel Taveras has joined with mayors across the nation in calling on Congress to preserve federal funding for job training programs in Providence and across the United States.
In a Dec. 6 letter to the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Mayor Taveras and more than 100 other mayors across the nation urged Congress to keep America's workforce poised for employment by maintaining current levels of funding for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
“It’s vitally important that Congress maintains funding for the programs that are putting people back to work in Providence and across our nation,” said Mayor Taveras. “Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston provides critical support to job seekers in our community, and these cuts would impact the agency’s continuing ability to train workers, coordinate with employers and get our local economy moving.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe House Majority's FY12 draft Labor-HHS appropriations bill would eliminate almost 75 percent in funding for WIA programs.
WIA funds are used in Providence and across Rhode Island and the nation to recruit, train and employ workers. In 2010, Workforce Investment Act programs served more than 9 million people – a 238 percent increase in participation rates over the past two years.
Through Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston, WIA funds are used locally to provide job training, skills development, GED, ESL, basic- and advanced training, and remedial skills help to unemployed workers. In October, more than 250 area residents and some of Rhode Island’s largest employers took part in a job fair hosted by Workforce Solutions.
