Previous Story
Kilili wants Job Corps center in US territories
|
Posted on Jun 27 2011
Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan introduced last week a bill that will allow a Job Corps center to be established in the CNMI and other U.S. territories.
The 1998 Workforce Investment Act only authorizes Job Corps training sites in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
“Having a Job Corps center in the NMI would mean our young people would not have to leave to get the training they need and local businesses would benefit from a skilled workforce connected to our community and committed to remaining,” Sablan said.
Currently, Hawaii is the nearest Job Corps center.
Sablan said 20 people from the CNMI trained there between 2005 and 2009, but only six were placed in jobs in the CNMI.
“My amendment to the law gives the Secretary of Labor the authority to consider all parts of our country as potential locations for future Job Corps centers. Of course, this is just a first step. Bringing a Job Corps training facility to the NMI will require money, and money is in short supply in Washington these days. But we have to lay the groundwork,” Sablan added.
As of June 24, Sablan’s legislation had 26 co-sponsors, including American Samoa Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christensen, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo and Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi.
