Readers will recall the SECTORS Act passed the House and enjoys bi-partisan support in the Senate. We look for it to be enacted this coming year.
The “Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize
Regional Success (SECTORS) Act of 2008”
Bill Summary
Overview – Industry or sector partnerships organize stakeholders connected to an industry—multiple firms, labor unions, education and training providers, and local workforce and education system administrators among others—to develop plans for growing (or saving) that industry, with a particular focus on building new workforce pipelines where skilled worker shortages exist and transforming the ways existing workers are utilized, retrained and compensated. These partnerships have long been recognized as key strategic element within some of the most successful state and local workforce development efforts in the country, but current federal policy does not provide adequate support for these initiatives.
The “Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act of 2008” would amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and establishes a new Industry or Sector Partnership Grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Grants are intended to allow recipients to establish or expand industry or sector partnerships that lead collaborative planning, resource alignment, and training efforts across multiple firms for current and potential workers within the targeted industry cluster.
Types of Grants - Eligible entities may apply for a one year planning grant of up to $250,000 and a three year implementation grant of up to $2.5 million. Eligible entities receiving an implementation grant may apply for a $1.5 million renewal grant for an additional three years if certain conditions are met. Eligible entities must leverage increasing amounts of non-federal funding each year they receive federal funding.
Priority in awarding grants will be given to eligible entities that work with high road employers, help workers move toward economic self-sufficiency, address the needs of firms with limited human resources or training capacity (including small- and medium-sized firms), and coordinate with State and local entities engaged in workforce investment, economic development, and educational activities.
Careful Targeting of Industry Clusters – Prospective grantees are required to identify targeted industry clusters using a number of criteria, including the competitiveness of the industry cluster, importance of the cluster to the economic development of the area or region being served, demonstrated demand for skilled workers and the availability of jobs and career opportunities leading to economic self-sufficiency for current and potential workers.
Broad Range of Required Grant Activities - Grantees must commit to carrying out a range of strategic activities, including identifying and aggregating the training needs of multiple employers, helping postsecondary educational institutions and other training providers align curricula and programs to meet industry demand, and improving job quality through improving wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers.
Rigorous Reporting and Program Evaluation Requirements - Grantees must submit annual reports on grant-funded activities, and must conduct annual evaluations of progress towards strategic objectives, using predetermined performance measures with quantifiable benchmarks.
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Robust Technical Assistance and Information Sharing - The SECTORS Act requires the Secretary of Labor to promote the success of the Industry or Sector Grant program by providing technical assistance to eligible entities applying for and administering the grants, issuing performance measures, and disseminating information on best practices in industry or sector partnerships through conferences, websites, and annual reviews.
Enhanced Coordination of Federal Training and Education Programs - The SECTORS Act increases the coordination and alignment of existing education and training programs by requiring the heads of all Federal agencies and departments to maintain up-to-date information on the impact of their policies on workers, and to develop and implement policies that improve the jobs and careers of affected workers.
New Opportunities in the New Year
What does the new year hold for skills training and Cincinnati Manufacturing Certificates(CMC)? Here are some key developments to look for:
1. Ohio sets statewide manufacturing training standards - the leading training system is MSSC but state politics could intervene,
2. CMC restarts training with newly certified instructors including Robert Jones,
3. national Sectors ACT passes providing resources for the area advanced manufacturing career pathway,
4. MSSC training will continue to be the best training value for any manufacturing workers looking to gain higher pay, promotions and job security.
Cincinnati MSSC Weekly will follow all these developments as they unfold. Happy Holidays to all our trainees, employers, and career pathway partners.
1. Ohio sets statewide manufacturing training standards - the leading training system is MSSC but state politics could intervene,
2. CMC restarts training with newly certified instructors including Robert Jones,
3. national Sectors ACT passes providing resources for the area advanced manufacturing career pathway,
4. MSSC training will continue to be the best training value for any manufacturing workers looking to gain higher pay, promotions and job security.
Cincinnati MSSC Weekly will follow all these developments as they unfold. Happy Holidays to all our trainees, employers, and career pathway partners.
Manufacturing Pathway Makes an Impact in Washington
Local construction and manufacturing leaders met in Washington with the Dept of Labor, at the White House, and with Senatorial staff in support of the Sectors Act already passed by the House of Representatives. In the course of these meetings the work of the Cincinnati area career pathway programs in manufacturing and construction were noted by officials there. The Sectors Act passed by acclamation in the House and will get bi-partisan support in the Senate. This law will free up Workforce Investment Act dollars to support the work of career pathways.
Butler County is offering MSSC training for unemployed and underemployed workers starting January 31st. Hamilton county residents are eligible. Call Workforce One at 785-6500 and ask about the Manufacturing Production Technician Program.
Butler County is offering MSSC training for unemployed and underemployed workers starting January 31st. Hamilton county residents are eligible. Call Workforce One at 785-6500 and ask about the Manufacturing Production Technician Program.
Manufacturing To Continue Growth Cycle
Manufacturing grew for the 16th straight month in November. The outlook for 2011 is for continuing expansion reported Business Week today. In an article headlined "U.S. Factories See Stronger Sales, Spending in 2011, ISM Says", sales are projected to increase over 5% with capital investment jumping 15%. Reports are even more optimistic for the 2nd half of 2011 with increases in employment in manufacturing projected to be over 5 times that of the service sector.
All of this is good news for new workers wanting a career in manufacturing. Getting advanced skills such as MSSC training will only serve to enhance those prospects in the coming year.
All of this is good news for new workers wanting a career in manufacturing. Getting advanced skills such as MSSC training will only serve to enhance those prospects in the coming year.
