Marquette Tech Receives $1.35M Department of Labor's Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Award
The U.S. Department of Labor announced an award of $29 million to 27 grant recipients. This award was presented through the Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).
Recipients of the grant will work with industry and community partners to promote new, sustainable job opportunities and long-term economic strength through activities that address the specific needs of each community.
Included in these recipients is the Marquette Tech District Foundation, Inc. Marquette Tech received $1.35 million in grant funding. This award is the largest in Missouri and one of the most extensive projects in the entire Delta/Appalachian region. This confirms both the need for efforts to expand the digital workforce and economy, and the quality of the partners being brought together across southern Missouri to help many people start digital careers in the region.
“The WORC Initiative encourages grantees to use innovative, regional approaches that leverage local partnerships and resources to build a strong foundation for long-term economic success in the area,” said Assistant Secretary John Pallasch. “We look forward to working with ARC and DRA to ensure that the training delivered through these grants better positions jobseekers to fill the unmet skill needs of local employers, so that workers and businesses can thrive in their communities.”
“For rural communities to be competitive today, we must ensure that economic development and skills development go hand in hand,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Caldwell. “Through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities initiative, the Delta Regional Authority enables Delta communities to strengthen workforce pipelines and continue upward economic mobility. Thanks to the vision of Senator Blunt and leadership of President Trump and Secretary Scalia, the WORC Initiative will provide critical investments into innovative, industry-driven workforce training across the Delta.”
“Appalachian rural communities must continue to develop a skilled and ready workforce in order to compete, especially those in economically distressed areas,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “The WORC Initiative is an innovative partnership creating opportunity for rural workforce development, and is indicative of President Trump’s commitment to this goal.”