Town Awarded Job Training Grant
The Regional Workforce Alliance has awarded the Town of Hamden one of the largest workforce development grants in the state in the amount of $101,808. This is the only grant of its kind in the region. The focus use of the funding provided from this grant will continue the “More Than a Job” program. Although there have been few awards of this grant program statewide for the last five years, Hamden has received four consecutive grants over the last two years.
The purpose of this grant is to further the progress of the welfare to work initiative, by helping people to find meaningful employment. This program is administered in a classroom environment, where students are taught resume development, interviewing skills, and how to dress for success. These vital skills help to create a much more prepared and dynamic workforce. “A good workforce development strategy is a critical building block for a successful economic development plan,” says Dale Kroop, Director of Economic and Community Development for the Town of Hamden.
Susan Hutchinson, the Town’s Workforce Development Coordinator, is the primary architect of the program as well as the person most responsible for procuring the grants necessary for running the program. She is the only independent Town employed Workforce Development Coordinator in the region, and one of the few in the entire State. Along with Mrs. Hutchinson, Vanna Francia, the Director of Community Services, helps with the day-to-day administration of the grant program.
The More Than a Job program utilizes five staff members for the Town of Hamden to administer the program. There are three computer technicians, one job developer, and one case manager available to all program participants. The classes consist of 10 participants per program, and there are four sessions per year.
As a result of the dedicated work by all the staff there is nearly a 100% graduation rate, and a nearly 80% job placement rate for participants immediately after completion of the program.
Examples of the types of businesses where students were placed are Administrative Assistant, data entry, and customer service. Sue Hutchinson is hopeful that “The partnership between the Workforce Alliance, the Town of Hamden, and the Economic and Community Development Department will continue through the awarding of this grant to the Town. Since its inception in 1998 this program has proven to be very successful in the training and placement of program participants, and we hope to continue this partnership for the sustained benefit of the Hamden community in the years to come.”
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