Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 20, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
“Today we are here to celebrate a great example of what can happen when labor, management and government come together to work toward a common goal,” Locke told leaders gathered at Perry Technical Institute in Yakima this afternoon.
“The Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership is proof that industry-led, private-public partnerships are successful at creating more opportunities for both employers and workers,” the governor said.
In June 2000, the U.S. Department of Labor provided a two-year, $750,000 grant for workforce development infrastructure in the food industry. The governor collaborated with legislators and leaders from industry, labor, education and government to launch the Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership, committing $500,000 in discretionary funds to finance the Skills Training for Incumbent Workers Program to provide resources for immediate, direct training for workers.
The federal grant period ends June 30, but the comprehensive partnership will continue.
The partnership includes the U.S. Department of Labor, numerous state agencies, community colleges and workforce development councils, private training institutions, employers, labor and business organizations.
Locke said the disparate group has worked together to develop high-quality training sessions that are “affordable and meaningful to employees, employers and the entire workforce system.”
In July of 2000, the governor challenged Pam Lund, at the time the project director of the partnership, to train 400 incumbent employees to address skill shortages in the agriculture and food processing industries.
“I am extremely proud to say that our goal has been surpassed by over 75 percent,” said Locke, noting that more than 700 workers will have completed customized training sessions for specific career advancement opportunities in their workplaces by June 30.
Training providers have developed 26 customized courses to meet agricultural-sector needs, serving trainees from 32 companies, representing 50 plants or work sites. As an example, the governor cited an average $587 wage increase per trainee within four months after completing a programmable logic control computer training course.
As a result, Locke said, “Workers now have the skills they need to earn better wages and become more competitive in today’s job market, and businesses are better positioned to be more productive.”
The governor praised the partnership as a nationally recognized model of collaborative leadership, seamless integration of private, state, and federal resources, and effective labor-management teamwork.
The National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices designated the partnership as one of four regional skills partnerships that address skill shortages and promote job retention and career advancement for low-income workers.
“Business and labor will continue to benefit from the training the Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership is providing,” Locke said.
Related Links:
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
- Perry Technical Institute
- National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 20, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Locke congratulates agriculture-food processing partnership on success in workforce development
YAKIMA — Gov. Gary Locke today congratulated the Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership on its success in training workers and meeting industry challenges.“Today we are here to celebrate a great example of what can happen when labor, management and government come together to work toward a common goal,” Locke told leaders gathered at Perry Technical Institute in Yakima this afternoon.
“The Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership is proof that industry-led, private-public partnerships are successful at creating more opportunities for both employers and workers,” the governor said.
In June 2000, the U.S. Department of Labor provided a two-year, $750,000 grant for workforce development infrastructure in the food industry. The governor collaborated with legislators and leaders from industry, labor, education and government to launch the Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership, committing $500,000 in discretionary funds to finance the Skills Training for Incumbent Workers Program to provide resources for immediate, direct training for workers.
The federal grant period ends June 30, but the comprehensive partnership will continue.
The partnership includes the U.S. Department of Labor, numerous state agencies, community colleges and workforce development councils, private training institutions, employers, labor and business organizations.
Locke said the disparate group has worked together to develop high-quality training sessions that are “affordable and meaningful to employees, employers and the entire workforce system.”
In July of 2000, the governor challenged Pam Lund, at the time the project director of the partnership, to train 400 incumbent employees to address skill shortages in the agriculture and food processing industries.
“I am extremely proud to say that our goal has been surpassed by over 75 percent,” said Locke, noting that more than 700 workers will have completed customized training sessions for specific career advancement opportunities in their workplaces by June 30.
Training providers have developed 26 customized courses to meet agricultural-sector needs, serving trainees from 32 companies, representing 50 plants or work sites. As an example, the governor cited an average $587 wage increase per trainee within four months after completing a programmable logic control computer training course.
As a result, Locke said, “Workers now have the skills they need to earn better wages and become more competitive in today’s job market, and businesses are better positioned to be more productive.”
The governor praised the partnership as a nationally recognized model of collaborative leadership, seamless integration of private, state, and federal resources, and effective labor-management teamwork.
The National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices designated the partnership as one of four regional skills partnerships that address skill shortages and promote job retention and career advancement for low-income workers.
“Business and labor will continue to benefit from the training the Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processing Partnership is providing,” Locke said.
Related Links:
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
- Perry Technical Institute
- National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
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