PTC named leader in $18 million consortium grant

Pine Technical College has received an $18.3 million four-college, multi-state consortium grant in part of an effort to expand demand-driven skills training, and strengthen employer partnerships. The Obama Administration made the announcement of the $474.5 million in grants to community and technical colleges across the U.S. on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

“The grants are part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program, a multiyear, nearly $2 billion initiative to expand targeted training programs for unemployed workers, especially those impacted by foreign trade,” explained a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

This award will allow PTC to begin offering programs such as: cybersecurity, mobile applications development for the iPhone, iPad and Android markets, and IT network training with Microsoft and Cisco certifications.

All six schools awarded in Minnesota are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. PTC was named the consortium leader for the Rural Information Technology Alliance (RITA) grant. Members of this consortium are North Central Texas College, Central Lakes College, and Ridgewater College. The other Minnesota schools awarded were Century College, for the Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics consortium, and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical, for the Mississippi River Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics consortium (MRTDL). 

The consortium amount for Pine Technical College and its members totals $18,317,022, with an industry focus of Information Technology. PTC will receive $6,898,193 of the $18+ million. PTC President Dr. Robert Musgrove explained that this particular consortium is focused on meeting the rural employment needs in information technology, which will allow employees to stay in their localities. 

There is a shortage of IT resources in rural areas, and with this grant, the four schools, along with allied workforce centers, industry partners, and IT employers will work to implement a project that addresses critical rural IT needs in the workforce. “Together, we can achieve more collectively,” said Musgrove, who also noted that the creating and writing of the RITA grant was “very much a collaborative effort.”

To fulfill this project, the schools will upgrade college programs, construct career ladders, work to remove barriers to the TAA-eligible workers and other adult workforce center clients, and find high-wage employment. Along with this project, the program will develop or expand a range of IT programs that will be available at all colleges, on-site, online, or by hybridized solutions.  Each program is designed for completion within two years, and has various entry and exit points.

"In the 8th District, I'm particularly pleased to see Pine Technical College in Pine City and Central Lakes College in Brainerd receiving a combined total of just under $10 million to boost their already highly successful education and career training programs," said Representative Rick Nolan in a statement issued by the Minnesota Congressional Delegation Sept. 19.  "What a boost for those institutions, their students and faculty, and the local communities that have been so supportive."

These grants are the third installment of a nearly $2 billion community college initiative, and the four-year grant will begin Oct. 1, 2013.