FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

DAYTON, April 1, 2008 – Maintaining its efforts to keep New Jersey a national leader in workforce development, Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner David J. Socolow awarded a $152,000 competitive customized training grant to Aurobindo Pharma USA to help its workers compete in the new economy.

“There is no more important step we can take for our economy than to maintain a highly skilled and highly trained workforce that matches the needs of the business community,” said Commissioner Socolow.  “The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is focusing on training today’s workers with the skills that still will be in demand tomorrow, so that our state is poised to be a leader in the new economy.

“With this grant, the Department is leveraging resources to support advanced technical and occupational training that offers workers in key economic industry sectors, opportunities to improve their work skills and enhance the profitability of their companies,” Socolow added.

Customized Training grants like this meet industry-specific workforce development challenges and encourage investment in new technologies and equipment.  For example, Aurobindo Pharma USA, a manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals, will train their workers in advanced manufacturing processes and bioinformatics. These are skills that employers need their employees to master in order to be competitive in the global economy. 

Commissioner Socolow was joined by Aurobindo Pharma USA officials, the president of Mercer County Community College and employees of Aurobindo for the presentation of the ceremonial check.

Aurobindo Pharma USA is matching the grant with a $155,025 contribution.  The company expects to train 65 incumbent employees and 75 new hires.  Mercer County Community College is providing training in such areas as computer skills, manufacturing, mathematics and communications to current and new hires of Aurobindo Pharma.

“We applaud the State of New Jersey in their commitment to help develop and improve our workforces. It is this type of activity that helps us keep jobs here in the state and most importantly compete, not only on a regional basis but on a global basis”, said Scott White, CEO Aurobindo Pharma USA.

According to Mercer County Community College President, Dr. Patricia C. Donohue, “Our highly effective Center for Training and Development is pleased to be chosen to provide customized training for the employees of Aurobindo Pharma.  Our training programs are designed to increase the skills of employees in order to help our clients improve productivity, communication and job retention.  Last year we served more than 50 businesses in the region.”

Customized training grants are matching grants awarded to New Jersey businesses to provide training to the company’s workforce in skills specifically needed to increase productivity and marketability.  The grants, awarded through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, are funded through the Workforce Development Partnership Program.

During the Second Cycle of Notice of Grant Opportunities, 65 Competitive Customized Training Grants were awarded amounting over $6.8 million and it is estimated that over 13,000 New Jersey workers were trained.

Information about competitive customized training and literacy grants is available by calling (609) 633-6799 or on the Internet at http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/employer/training/incentives_training_index.html .


Click to view photos of the event