UH Maui College Gets $4,985,259 in Job Training

Students present their work at last year’s 2013 Innovation Day Series. File photo courtesy UHMC.

By Maui Now Staff

Nearly $10 million in federal funding will go toward job training programs at seven community colleges across the state, including the University of Hawaʻi Maui College in Kahului.

The announcement was made today by US Senator Brian Schatz who said, “One of the best ways to grow our local economy is to invest in programs that will give Hawaiʻi’s workers the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Schatz said the $9,999,870 investment will help community colleges across the state offer new, in-demand courses focused on information technology and health care.

He said the funds will give Hawaiʻi’s students “new career opportunities and a better shot at success.”

US Representative Colleen Hanabusa noted that the Maui share of the funds is $4,985,259.  In making the announcement she said, “By creating partnerships between businesses and our community colleges, these types of programs provide important career training and education to our students and help them find employment opportunities with in-demand industries such as healthcare and manufacturing.”

The funds were made possible through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training competitive grant program, which is co-administered by the US Department of Labor and US Department of Education.

“The TAACCCT grant program has already provided the Hawaii Community College Consortium with more than $35 million for job training and resources, so I would like to say mahalo to the Administration for their continued commitment to strengthening Hawaii’s workforce,” said Hanabusa.

Schatz said funding will be used to hire or train instructors to expand their capacity to offer in-demand courses or certifications, leverage online learning, develop new curricula and training models, purchase new equipment to ensure students train on what employers actually use, and solicit feedback from local employers.