DATE: September 3, 2008
CONTACT: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt is urging Missouri's Congressional Delegation to seriously consider pending workforce development legislation that provides crucial support to Missouri businesses and workers.

"Economies and labor markets across our great nation are experiencing a rapid transformation, perhaps unlike any other in our rich history," Gov. Blunt wrote in the letter. "We are fortunate in Missouri to enjoy a productive, diverse economy with healthy assets in industries such as agribusiness, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, energy, transportation and logistics to name a few. These sectors have allowed our state to grow and transition more smoothly into higher technology industries than some other states."

Gov. Blunt stressed the need to recognize that low-skill jobs are being outsourced to lower cost international markets and that new technologies are changing the nature of the workplace. The governor is asking Missouri's congressional delegation to rethink the traditional response to workforce development needs by providing states with modern, flexible tools to respond to rapidly-changing market conditions.

Gov. Blunt noted that while many companies provide advanced notice to their employees about pending layoffs, the Trade Assistance Act does not allow employees to enroll in federally funded job training activities until they are no longer working. This is not in the best interest of employees because the impacted workers sometimes have to wait several weeks after being laid off to enroll in training activities.

Gov. Blunt awarded nearly $3 million in regional workforce grants this July as part of his Skilled Workforce Initiative. The initiative, now in its third year, has helped more than 17,000 Missourians develop technical and foundational competencies to prepare them for high-growth careers in industries that drive Missouri's economy. In addition, earlier this year, the governor authorized releasing more than $10 million in state assistance under the Missouri Job Development Fund to facilitate skill training for more than 32,000 new and current employees in 244 companies.

Under Gov. Blunt's leadership, Missouri has become a national leader in public workforce system innovation. Missouri is one of only seven states to win multiple Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grants from the U.S. Department of Labor. The WIRED initiative supports businesses and workers in high-technology industries by aligning education, workforce development and economic development assets at the regional level. In 2007 the governor worked with Southeast Missouri leaders to secure $5 million in WIRED funding over three years. In 2006, the Kansas City WIRED initiative received $15 million over three years.

Workforce development services are administered by the Department of Economic Development's Division of Workforce Development. State funded workforce training is delivered through the state's network of 12 community college districts and some career and technical schools. Federally funded workforce services are provided through the state's network of 14 Local Workforce Investment Boards, 42 Missouri Career Centers and 44 neighborhood access points operated by community and faith-based organizations.

Gov. Blunt secured funding for a number of initiatives to better prepare Missouri's current and future workforce for the knowledge based economy. This includes $3.9 million over the past two years to support eMINTS, technology-focused classrooms for Math, Engineering, Technology and Science (METS).

Gov. Blunt has been a successful champion for higher education in Missouri. As governor, he put an end to the previous administration's cuts in higher education. The governor's support for higher education nearly quadruples funding available for Access Missouri scholarships and provides $105.8 million in new funding for colleges and universities. This year, for the first time ever, total funding for higher education in the state tops $1 billion. Thanks to the governor's leadership the state budget for higher education is the largest in history. Additionally, Gov. Blunt's Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative is providing $335 million for colleges and universities across the state for important capital improvement projects on campus.

The governor created the P-20 Council, a group focused on coordinating learning from preschool education (P) to graduate school and the workforce (20). At Gov. Blunt's direction, the council aims to reduce the gaps between primary, secondary, college, graduate school and the workforce and is focused on preparing tomorrow's workforce for the high-tech jobs of the future. The P-20 Council has orchestrated statewide regional collaboration with business and education leaders to build on Gov. Blunt's strategic investments in education.

Gov. Blunt has championed pro-jobs, pro-growth initiatives that have helped Missourians create 72,500 jobs since January 2005 placing Missouri in the top half of states for job growth.

Letter to the Honorable Claire McCaskill