photo courtesy Richland College website

photo courtesy Richland College website

A new grant awarded to nearby Richland College will help prepare students for immediate employment in manufacturing and electronics technology careers.

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Richland happens to be one of only two Texas institutions to receive the trade adjustment assistance community college and career training grant from the department of labor, which was awarded during a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C. hosted by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, secretary of labor Thomas E. Perez, and secretary of education Arne Duncan.

“With these funds, Richland College is strategically positioned to bridge critical gaps of two kinds: one between the workforce and specialized employment training and the other between that workforce and local employer needs,” says Dr. Kathryn K. Eggleston, Richland college president, via press release.

The grant will boost Richland College’s existing manufacturing and electronics technology programs and facilitate partnerships with the city of Garland, the city of Richardson, the Metroplex Technology Business Council, and 14 Dallas employers. The employer partners have committed to hiring students that complete the program, supporting curriculum development, offering internships, and providing on-the-job training for students.

“Community colleges play a vital role in training Americans to meet the needs of employers today,” says U.S. secretary of education Arne Duncan.