(stimulus) Grant to train for building trades

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100115/NEWS01/701159878

Published Friday January 15, 2010

By Leslie Reed
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Southeast Community College will use a $2.3 million federal grant to establish a two-year construction training program to serve those struggling to find work in the economic downturn.

The training program was among 38 federal stimulus grant recipients announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor. The “Pathways Out of Poverty” program distributed $150 million total for “green job” training programs for workers who live in disadvantaged areas.

Jack Huck, president of Southeast Community College, said the college worked with several organizations, including the Associated General Contractors trade group and the Center for People in Need, a service center for low-income people, to develop the proposal for Lincoln.

The college has increasingly focused in recent years on short-term training programs designed for groups that have specific needs, Huck said. The details of this particular program were hammered out in the past year.

“It's been very remarkable to see people work together to develop this,” Huck said. “You get your hopes up that something's going to happen, but this is a very competitive process. To be one of 38 selected is very gratifying.”

FULL story at link.