U.S. Dept. of Labor Awards $2.8 M to the Natl Retail Federation Foundation: Funding Will Develop Retail Industry Career Path

5/1/2003

From: Lorette Post of the U.S. Department of Labor, 202-693-3984

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has awarded a $2.8 million grant to the National Retail Federation Foundation (NRFF) to help employers develop career paths for employees in the retail industry. The grant runs through February 2005.

"Helping people connect with the workforce remains our focus," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This grant will help workers get on the track to better career opportunities and position themselves for better jobs with promising futures."

The NRFF and several mall developers have joined with community colleges, government and community-based partners to provide training facilities in nine shopping centers around the country. The skills centers provide customer service and retail education and training for mall tenants, surrounding employers, and area workers seeking jobs.

The Employment and Training Administration grant will establish up to six new centers and designate existing skills centers as learning laboratories for use by the state employment and training system and local employers. Funds will also be used to encourage employers to use the many services provided by the public workforce system and its One Stop Career Centers.

"Faced with a more and more competitive labor market, workers will benefit from the cross-industry customer service and retail sales certification program that the NRFF grant will implement," said Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "Certification increases job retention and encourages employer commitment to promoting workers on an established career path."

The retail skills center program developed under this grant will be a model that can be replicated, and will become self-sustaining, using non-federal funds, within three years.

The research and education arm of the National Retail Federation, NRFF is a non-profit foundation which conducts industry research; develops education and workforce development programs, and promotes retailing as a career destination.

The Employment and Training Administration seeks to build a strong workforce by matching job training and employment services with current employer needs through a strong, responsive public workforce investment system and private sector partnerships.

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