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National Network Welcomes Announcement on Skills Grants

Focus on Business-Community College Partnership Will Help Fill Vacant Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 16, 2014 — The National Network of Business and Industry Associations (the National Network) today applauded efforts by the Administration to better align education with skills employers need through the fourth round of grants under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT). 

“Better collaboration between community colleges and employers is an essential part of closing the gap between what students learn and what employers need,” said John Engler, president of Business Roundtable, an operational partner of the National Network.

While the National Network is focused on business sector leadership on the issue, it is encouraged that the last round of TAACCCT grants is focused on the partnership between business and community colleges. 

"This fourth round of grants shows two significant developments: first, it directly connects business and industry associations as scaling partners with community colleges so that the curriculum that prepares students to achieve industry-recognized credentials for in-demand jobs can be made available across the nation," said Parminder K. Jassal, founding executive director, ACT Foundation, which co-operates the National Network.  "Second, we are encouraged that this latest round of funding will incentivize community colleges to actively engage with groups and not single employers to expand options for qualified workers and not subject them to the ups and downs of any one company's business cycles."

The National Network represents major business sectors and is funded through a collaborative partnership of Business Roundtable (BRT), ACT Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Joyce Foundation and Lumina Foundation. Members include leaders in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, energy, construction, hospitality, transportation and information technology sectors. They represent the source of nearly 75 percent of projected U.S. job growth through 2020 (an estimated 30 million new jobs). More information on the National Network can be found here.

Inaugural Members of the National Network of Business and Industry Associations include: 

 Aerospace Industries Association

American Health Information Management Association

American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

American Land Title Association and ALTA’s Land Title Institute

American Moving and Storage Association

American Public Transportation Association

American Welding Society

Center for Energy Workforce Development

CompTIA

Home Builders Institute

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

The Manufacturing Institute

National Apartment Association Education Institute

National Center for Construction Education and Research

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

National Institute for Metalworking Skills

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

National Retail Federation Foundation

Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute

TechAmerica/TechAmerica Foundation

Western Association of Food Chains

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