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The Maui News
The University of Hawaii has received a $16.4 million grant to establish sustainable workforce training programs based out of its seven community colleges, including UH-Maui College.
The "Resilient Hawaii: Good Jobs Challenge" initiative is a three-year project that aims to create economic resilience and prosperity for Hawaii by investing in four industry sectors: clean energy, creative industries, health care and technology.
The initiative will train thousands of workers statewide in the four sectors and will focus on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to help provide equitable participation.
"In collaboration with employers, industry associations and community partners statewide, the Resilient Hawaii initiative will assist individuals whose employment opportunities were disrupted by COVID-19," UH President David Lassner said in a news release Wednesday. "UH is grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation, Gov. David Ige and all of our mayors for this amazing project that will connect residents throughout the islands with employer-driven training that leads to quality careers in sectors critical to Hawaii's future."
Through a coalition of more than 70 employers, training providers, community-based organizations and key stakeholders, the Resilient Hawaii project will develop, design and implement workforce development programs to get residents back to work or to increase their skills for new employment in "good jobs," according to the news release. They will then translate these skills into training programs, certifications and/or on-the-job training opportunities.
Resilient Hawaii will support the training and wraparound costs for participants. The three-year initiative will train 3,000 participants and aims to place at least 75 percent of those completing the programs into good jobs.
"By investing in workforce training programs in health care, technology and clean energy, this new federal funding will connect industries that need workers with people who need jobs and help grow our local economy," U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said in the news release.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono also celebrated the grant, saying it will enable UH and its partners "to strengthen Hawaii's economy in some of our most important industries while building a robust workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and equipping students with the skills they need to secure good jobs after graduation."