April 17, 2009
Vice President Biden, Gov. Nixon launch Next-Generation Jobs Team during visit with St. Louis-area students
ST. LOUIS - Across Missouri, high school and college students are getting ready for summer. But under a program announced today by Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Jay Nixon, thousands of these young Missourians will spend summer learning the skills they'll need for the careers of tomorrow, not sitting on the couch at home.
Vice President Biden and Gov. Nixon today visited the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club in St. Louis to meet with a group of local students about their educational and career plans and launch the Missouri Next-Generation Jobs Team, a summer employment program that will prepare young Missourians to compete for and excel in the high-tech, high-paying careers of the 21st century.
The Next-Generation Jobs Team will help match approximately 3,000 Missouri youth, ages 16 to 24, with summer internships and work experiences at cutting-edge employers across the state. Mentors with the Missouri Department of Economic Development's local Workforce Investment Boards will help youth identify career fields of interest and place young people with appropriate employers in the area. The young Missourians will then spend the summer gaining on-the-job training and work experience, along with continued guidance and support from professional career counselors. Wages for the young workers will be funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"To transform our economy for the future, it's vital that we prepare the next generation of American workers to take on the jobs and professions of the 21st century," Vice President Biden said. "That's why President Obama and I were so committed to supporting job-training programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We commend Gov. Nixon and the state of Missouri for investing these one-time recovery funds into an innovative program that will help train young Missourians for careers in high-tech, high-growth industries. This is exactly the type of program the Recovery Act was designed to support, and we look forward to seeing a thorough report on its success later this year."
"To create new jobs and turn this economy around, we must ensure that Missouri has highly trained, highly skilled workers who are ready to compete for the careers of tomorrow," Gov. Nixon said. "Our Next-Generation Jobs Team will help young Missourians identify emerging careers in high-growth, high-tech industries, and they'll spend a summer gaining experience that will give them a leg up on the competition. At the same time, we'll help Missouri employers develop a pool of talent here in our state to meet their needs for educated and qualified workers. I encourage young Missourians and employers alike to take advantage of this opportunity to build the workforce that will lead our economy into the future."
Young Missourians and employers can apply to become part of the program by visiting the state home page, www.mo.gov, and clicking on the Next-Generation Jobs Team graphic. There is no fee to apply for or participate in the program. Applications from students and businesses will be forwarded to local Workforce Investment Boards, where counselors will connect youth and potential employers.
Already, next-generation employers from across Missouri are lining up to be a part of this program, including Analytical Bio-Chemistry (ABC) Laboratories, a cutting-edge manufacturer of human and animal pharmaceuticals in Columbia; Burns & McDonnell, a leading sustainable design and engineering firm in Kansas City; Watts Radiant, a thermal energy company in Springfield; BJC Health System in St. Louis, one of the largest health care providers in the state; and utility companies and electrical cooperatives across the state. Additionally, industry and trade groups, including the Missouri Hospital Association and the Missouri Biotechnology Association, are working closely with the Division of Workforce Development to recruit employers for the program.
Vice President Biden and Gov. Nixon encouraged young Missourians and potential employers to submit their applications as soon as possible by visiting www.mo.gov and clicking through to the Next-Generation Jobs Team Web site.
"Summer's almost here, and we're ready to get this program up and running," Gov. Nixon said. "Young Missourians should move quickly to take advantage of this opportunity to jumpstart their careers."
To learn more about employers who are joining the Next-Generation Jobs Team across the state, Missourians should contact their local Workforce Investment Boards. Contact information for these offices is available online at: