Today, July 7, 2014, marks the deadline for the Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants through the Department of Labor. TAACCCT is a $450 Million grant program that promotes training partnerships between community colleges and employers. German American Chamber of Commerce California is proud to support the Pathways in Blue Program within the scope of TAACCCT. Pathways in Blue is a collaboration of ten colleges and selected industry partners in Southern California Through this project, thousands of unemployed and under-employed workers and veterans with stackable and latticed accelerated credentials will be trained leading to well-paying jobs in the maritime industry, and we are hopeful that the Pathways in Blue Program can be implemented this fall.
Peggy Fleming, President of German American Chamber of Commerce California, says: “Germany’s vocational education and training system is well respected worldwide. It is called the dual system because its key characteristic is a symbiosis between theory and practice. Furthermore, there is no fee for the student (apprentice). We are working very closely with selected German Industrie- und Handelskammern (IHKs) as well as Handwerkskammern. These are the organizations administrating the German dual system. In the U.S., programs like the Volkswagen Academy in Chattanooga already train Americans for careers in fields with high demand and the highest potential for growth. We understand that implementing best practices of the German system into the US market benefit both the US and Germany”.
If awarded the TAACCCT grant, Pathways in Blue will provide TAA workers, military veterans, the unemployed, incumbent workers and graduated high school students with training that will prepare them for a wide variety of jobs. Participants will retool and/or enhance their skill set to jobs that are inherently linked to the southern California regional maritime economy. This project will provide training that is responsive to the needs of companies like ours and aligned with national standards and certifications. The program helps meet industry needs by shortening training time and connecting participants with jobs much more quickly than traditional education or training programs. For those reasons, we are excited to be involved in these efforts.
For more information please contact us at 619-7953270 or by email to info@gaccca.org.