Rockefeller, Manchin, Rahall Announce $225,000 for Workforce West Virginia to Help Local Businesses Grow and Create Jobs
Funding Will Help Create 60 New Jobs in West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, announced $225,000 for the West Virginia Development Office’s Workforce West Virginia Competitive Improvement Program (CIP) which helps train workers and enable local businesses develop and grow in the state. Because of the money, Workforce West Virginia expects the funding to create about 60 new jobs. The funding is from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
“During these tough economic times, it’s particularly important that we invest in our workers and businesses, to help West Virginians and encourage economic growth,” said Rockefeller. “This funding will do just that by enabling our workers and businesses to remain competitive so that we can keep and grow jobs in West Virginia. Creating and saving jobs in the state has been and will continue to be one of my top priorities.”
Rockefeller recently introduced and co-sponsored a variety of bills following his first Senate Commerce Committee field hearing in West Virginia on June 27 which focused on developing manufacturing and exporting in West Virginia and the country.
“Having just wrapped up my multi-week ‘Rebuild America’ tour through more than 20 counties in West Virginia, I know with certainty that there is nothing more important to West Virginians right now than jobs – creating them and keeping them. That is my number one priority,” Manchin said. “No matter what problems we have in our communities, the ability to hold down steady work and provide for our families is what West Virginians are focused on right now. Any funding we can direct toward job training and strengthening our workforce and our West Virginia businesses is a great benefit to our state.”
“Investments in workforce training are critical to job creation in West Virginia,” said Rahall. “It improves the productivity of our businesses and makes them more competitive in the global marketplace. Alongside water and transportation infrastructure, it is a key component in attracting new businesses and growing our economy.”
Workforce West Virginia CIP anticipates serving at least 1,000 employees in 23 existing businesses in West Virginia. The program trains workers so that they can continue to improve their skills and move ahead, while also helping local businesses remain competitive and thrive in a global marketplace. This will not only benefit these workers and companies, but it will also encourage more West Virginia businesses to expand their operations and create even more jobs at home.
In addition to ARC funds, participating companies will provide $450,000, bringing the total project funding to $675,000.
For more information, workers or businesses can call WorkForce West Virginia at 1-877-967-5498 or online at www.workforcewv.org.
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