Stevens awarded 6th Workforce Development grant of $563,600 by NJ Department of Labor

Stevens Institute of Technology has again been awarded a $563,600 High-Growth Workforce Development training grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD). This is the sixth consecutive year in which Stevens has been awarded a grant to deliver training opportunities to New Jersey companies.

Under the grant, which will be effective from September 2009 through August 2010, Stevens will deliver workshops and training to assist the LWD in maintaining workforce vitality and flexibility.

"The training grants meet industry-specific workforce development challenges by encouraging investment in new technologies and equipment," said Dr. Audrey Curtis, who serves as director of the Stevens training programs. "For example, employers in the healthcare and biotechnology fields will train their workers in effective management techniques, as well as in the implementation of new and efficient operating procedures, by incorporating IT processes and bioinformatics.

"At the same time," she continued, "high-tech manufacturers will provide training for their incumbent workers, to improve efficiency and quality through the implementation of Lean manufacturing applications and continuous improvement strategies. These are skills that employers need their employees to master to be competitive in the global economy."

"Thanks once again to the Stevens team that recruits from a broad spectrum of industry clients," said Stevens President Harold J. Raveche, "and that executes the program so effectively - workforce development specialists James Bederka and William Johnson; and the Howe School's Dr. Audrey Curtis, Dr. Donald J. Lombardi and Associate Director of Marketing Sharen Glennon. Through these grants, the New Jersey Department of Labor is leveraging resources to support advanced technical and occupational training that offers workers, in these industry sectors, opportunities to improve their work skills and enhance the profitability of their companies."

"This year, our consortium of ten companies receiving the training from Stevens is comprised of five New Jersey high-tech firms and five healthcare organizations," said Glennon. "We are especially pleased to be hosting Commissioner Socolow, his team, and representatives from the consortium companies at our annual Business Roundtable on September 16, where we will discuss the importance and success of the workforce development model."

Source: Stevens Institute of Technology