Governor Warner Announces Retraining Assistance to Displaced Textile Workers
Governor Warner Announces Retraining Assistance to Displaced Textile Workers
Governor Warner announced today that the Virginia Employment Commission has awarded $1,098,500 of Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker funds to the South Central Workforce Investment Board (WIB) as part of a retraining initiative for displace textile workers. It is anticipated that Southside Virginia Community College will provide a large portion of the training under this grant, including training through its well-known heavy equipment training program.
"I visited Charlotte County in February to see and hear for myself the impact of the closing of the WestPoint Stevens plant in Drakes Branch that resulted in 450 workers losing their jobs," said Governor Warner. "I promised then that the Commonwealth and its agencies would be there to support the county and its citizens as they undertook the difficult task of recovering from this large layoff."
"This award will provide a variety of retraining and related services to help workers affected by the recent closings of the WestPoint Stevens plant, as well as the Weavexx plant in Farmville, and the Blackstone Manufacturing plant," said Governor Warner. "In February, I also asked the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to work with Charlotte County to develop a new approach to help market the County to potential employers. The County and VEDP have now developed a strong plan that I believe will be successful in the long run."
Over the next two years, the South Central WIB will use the grant to assist workers through the existing system of One-Stop offices in the region. These services will include vocational assessment, case management, placement, follow-up, and, if appropriate, skills upgrading and vocational training. Other services may be offered as well if the need arises.
Local employers will offer training for a variety of occupations in demand. Emphasis will be placed on on-the-job training, as opposed to traditional training, as surveys of the affected workers reflect a concentrated interest in becoming re-employed.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Apr05/0405.htm