The U.S. Department of Education announced today that the North Carolina Community College System will receive approximately $125,000 in immediate assistance to help laid-off Pillowtex Inc. workers gain additional education training and resources.

The funding will be used to conduct skills assessments (such as the Test of Adult Basic Education and the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System), provide for testing resources and to help more than 1,000 displaced workers gain a general equivalency diploma (GED).

On behalf of Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Assistant Secretary of Education Karen A. Johnson made the announcement today at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Concord, N.C. Johnson was joined by U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, whose district was hardest hit by the Pillowtex closing, and by Richard Brownell, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

"Secretary Paige and President Bush understand the devastating impact a layoff of this magnitude can have on an entire community," said Johnson, a North Carolina native. "Today, after weeks of discussions with community and education leaders on how best the Department of Education can assist displaced workers, I am pleased to announce $125,000 in funding for a comprehensive model demonstration program that will bring immediate financial resources, educational training and supplies to North Carolina workers."

In addition to significant funding for testing resources, Johnson said the funds will be used to conduct an educational needs assessment for the community. The assessment will be conducted in cooperation with the North Carolina Community College System to ensure local needs are properly identified and addressed.

"Working alongside Congressman Hayes and the entire congressional delegation, the Department of Education is bringing all of its resources to bear to help North Carolinians recover from this loss and to ensure that we leave no worker behind," said Johnson.

Funding is being made available with national activities funds from the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220). For more information on adult education funding and grant opportunities, go to http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html?src=oc

###

Top

Back to September 2003