HOBOKEN, N.J. June 2, 2008 – Today Commissioner David J. Socolow of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development awarded healthcare workers at four area hospitals a state training grant to upgrade their workplace skills. The department is teaming up with Stevens Institute of Technology and the hospital consortium (comprised of CentraState Healthcare System, Hoboken University Medical Center, Kessler Rehabilitation Services, and St. Barnabas Healthcare System) to develop a customized training program for each of the hospitals in the consortium.

Stevens Institute of Technology will use the $684,800 grant to train nearly 1,000 workers in courses that include PC skills, project management, database use and management, enterprise resource planning, and business communication. The hospitals in the consortium will match the grant with $1,159,905 of their own resources.

“One of the great things that we can do for our economy is to invest in education and training efforts that assure that businesses have workers with the skills they need to compete,” said Commissioner Socolow. “Public-private partnership like this one with Stevens Institute of Technology and the consortium of hospitals demonstrates the type of leadership we need to provide workers the skills required to succeed in the new economy.”

Joining Commissioner Socolow for the ceremonial check presentation were Stevens Institute of Technology officials, and representatives from the hospital consortium.

Audrey Curtis, executive director of the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management, said, “We are pleased to partner with the consortium and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Our customized training will help the employees acquire the skills and the knowledge necessary to succeed in the workplace.”

Stevens Institute of Technology will provide the training for staff members of the hospital consortium including support staff, direct patient care staff, clinical managers, medical practice managers, and business service managers.

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.

For more information about competitive customized training grants or literacy grants call (609) 633-6799 or go to the Internet at http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/employer/training/incentives_training_index.html.
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