HARTFORD— The National Fund for Workforce Solutions has awarded a $300,000 grant to Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford to expand its work supporting partnerships designed to prepare workers and jobseekers for sustainable jobs. United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut is a funder and lead agency of the collaborative.

The two-year grant allows the collaborative to intensify its workforce partnerships in three industries – advanced manufacturing, energy and utilities and health care. In particular, the collaborative will address two key issues for lower-income workers—lack of prerequisite basic skills and lack of hands-on experience.

“This work is unique because it’s about creating partnerships led by employers in key industries where there is a need for skilled workers,” said Paula S. Gilberto, senior vice president at United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and chair of the collaborative. “Jobs exist in these industries, but we need to prepare our workforce to move up the ladder by partnering with employers who know their workforce needs first-hand.”

The collaborative is one of five sites in the country awarded grants totaling $2.1 million.  The award is supported by the federal Social Innovation Fund grant awarded to the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and its implementation partner, Jobs for the Future. It is a combination of federal funding from the Social Innovation Fund and an equal amount of private funds raised by the National Fund.

“The National Fund model is locally driven, and unique to every region and every industry sector,” said Damian Thorman, National Program director at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Chair of the National Fund. “But all of our sites are built upon a similar strategy: implement job training and career support programs in close partnership with employers, ensuring that businesses benefit from a skilled workforce and employees get the skills and certifications that lead to sustainable careers.”

About Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford

Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford is a funders’ collaborative and a network of public/private stakeholder organizations committed to developing an educated, economically self-sufficient workforce that meets employer needs. Local funders of the collaborative include: American Savings Foundation, Capital Workforce Partners, Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Nutmeg Foundation and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, the lead agency of the collaborative. For more information, visit workforce-solutions.org.

About National Fund for Workforce Solutions

The National Fund for Workforce Solutionsis an award-winning national initiative focused on helping low-wage workers obtain good careers while at the same time ensuring that employers have the high-quality skills that will enable them to succeed in this highly competitive economy. Since 2008, the National Fund has raised nearly $24 million to support 32 communities that have contributed an additional $104 million in locally-raised resources from 216 different funding sources, including community foundations, United Ways, corporate foundations, workforce investment boards, chambers of commerce and state agencies. Twelve national funders lead the effort: Annie E. Casey Foundation; the California Endowment; Ford Foundation; The Foundation to Protect Open Society; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Joyce Foundation; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Microsoft; The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; The Hitachi Foundation; the Prudential Foundation; and the Walmart Foundation.