U.S. Representative Mike Turner today held a news conference to announce $300,000 in federal funding he helped secure for the Dayton Area Defense Contractors Association (DaytonDefense) to establish the Wright Center for Workforce Preparedness.
U.S. Representative Mike Turner today held a news conference to announce $300,000 in federal funding he helped secure for the Dayton Area Defense Contractors Association (DaytonDefense) to establish the Wright Center for Workforce Preparedness.
The Center will help prepare displaced Ohio workers for jobs coming to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a result of the BRAC process. The Center will publicize employer needs, match job skills, and help workers obtain appropriate security clearances.
“These dollars are an investment in the future of Miami Valley’s employment base,” Rep. Turner noted. “The funding will help southwest Ohio businesses become more competitive in securing contracts from incoming missions and assist Ohioans seeking employment in the defense industry.”
Rep. Turner secured the funding in the Fiscal Year 2010 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill which passed Congress last year. The funds are distributed through the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
“These funds will serve a valuable need in the community,” said Deborah Gross, Executive Director of DaytonDefense. “The community scored a huge win with BRAC and these funds will ensure the local defense community is prepared for the new contract requirements and personnel necessary to keep more contract dollars here in the Dayton region.”
Founded in 1995, Dayton Area Defense Contractors Association (DaytonDefense) is a not-for-profit industry association committed to expanding the region’s defense industrial base through community partnership and supporting the mission of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Wright-Patterson scored a major victory with the BRAC process five years ago. The community rallied together to ensure the BRAC Commission witnessed first-hand the outstanding work at the base. The commission believed the Dayton region was an ideal site to bring new missions to Wright-Patterson – saving 5,000 jobs and bringing an additional 1,200 military jobs to the base.