The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is getting nearly $750,000 in federal grant funding to strengthen the state's manufacturing sector. The funding was awarded by the DOC's Economic Development Administration (EDA), according to an Aug. 1 news release.
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to provide targeted, place-based grants designed to support local workforce development programs,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo said in the release. “This project will help manufacturers improve their ability to attract and retain talent, creating a pipeline of skilled, qualified workers to compete for good-paying, quality jobs.”
The $748,849 grant will be matched with $187,212 in local funds, according to the release. The investment "will develop and implement a manufacturing growth model designed to improve workforce participation across Tennessee. The model will focus on distressed, disaster impacted and coal impacted communities."
The university will use the funding to create programs that will help manufacturers improve their capacity to attract and keep talented employees with high-quality, good-paying careers and to develop a steady supply of trained, qualified and skilled workers to compete for those jobs, according to the release.
Regional planning efforts led by the East Tennessee Development District, First Tennessee Development District, Greater Nashville Regional Council, Memphis Area Association of Governments, Northwest Tennessee Development District, South Central Tennessee Development District, Southeast Tennessee Development District, Southwest Tennessee Development District and the Upper Cumberland Development District made this project possible, the release reported.
These organizations are funded by the EDA to coordinate efforts between public and private sectors to create economic development processes that strengthen regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs, the release stated.
The EDA invests in communities and supports regional partnerships that create jobs, promote innovation and bolster sustainable, long-term economic growth. The agency's mission is to "lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy," the release said.
