Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.2 Million to Expand Skills Training for East Central Missouri Workforce
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Friday, September 11, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.2 million grant to the Junior College District of East Central Missouri to create the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Training at East Central College (ECC) in Union, Missouri. According to grantee estimates, several local businesses could benefit from the project, which has the potential to create nearly 500 jobs in the region.
“The Obama Administration is committed to helping communities develop a workforce with the skills needed for 21st century jobs,” said Secretary Pritzker. “As part of the Department of Commerce’s ‘Skills for Business’ initiative, the EDA grant announced today will support expanded skills training to meet the needs of Missouri’s burgeoning advanced manufacturing industry.”
ECC is a state-supported two-year college, which serves a rural area with an enrollment currently averaging 4,100 students per year. EDA’s investment will support ECC’s renovation of an existing building in order to expand its technical education programs, which are currently being conducted in a satellite campus. This new facility will provide the college with increased lab and classroom space, enabling more students to be admitted into these high-demand programs. According to the grantee, the new center will also support the implementation of new, innovative programs such as tooling and die casting, industrial maintenance, and stick and tungsten inert gas welding, along with two new apprenticeship programs in machining and industrial maintenance.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The Economic Development Administration marks 50 years of public service, leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.