Friday, April 2, 2010

Gov. Beshear designates $250,000 for Owensboro health care job training initiative


FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear has awarded $250,000 to the Green River Workforce Investment Board to develop job training programs for careers in health care occupations. The dollars, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through the Governor’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Statewide Reserve, will fund the Prescription for Success Health Care initiative.
The GR-WIB will use the funds to implement programs to specifically serve low-income, unemployed or underemployed adults who are interested in an education or training program leading to a career in the health care sector.
“Despite the loss of jobs across the state, the demand for those in health care related occupations is increasing,” said Gov. Beshear. “Career training and development in this industry will be a valuable resource both for Kentuckians seeking new careers and for those in need of the services these jobs provide.”
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations are health care related. The agency projects that health care will generate 3.2 million new wage salary jobs in the United States between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry.
The Prescription for Success is a project of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet and the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board. The purpose of the initiative is to create integrated, collaborative partnerships that include representatives of the health care, education and workforce development sectors.

GRWIB will receive $250,000. In partnership with Owensboro Community and Technical College, local One-Stop Career Centers, county adult education providers, the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp., Hermitage Care Center, and Owensboro Medical Health System, the GRWIB will implement the Green River Nursing RX to address the current and future occupational demands of the health care industry.

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