Online CareerTech Training to Spur Rural
Economic Growth
Growing up in the small community of Bennington
has given former Congressman Wes Watkins a unique understanding
of the economic challenges facing rural Oklahoma. He believes
that the Oklahoma CareerTech system will be a positive
force in turning things around.
Watkins' legislative support recently helped the Oklahoma Department
of Career and Technology Education secure a $300,000 federal
grant to continue to develop an online learning system to spur
economic development in rural Oklahoma.
Piloting the project are six targeted communities:
Bennington, Coalgate, Durant, Healdton, Wetumka and Wewoka, according
to David Jinks, manager of Educational Technology Resources at
the state CareerTech agency.
The grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment
and Training Administration, will fund the Rural Employee Advancement
Challenge (REACH) project.
"The purpose is to further the work of the Rural Education
Virtual Tech job training program (REVTECH) and assist six rural
communities in their local economic development projects,"
Jinks said.
REVTECH is an economic
development project to assist rural communities recruit new and
expanding businesses.
"The project is targeting firms in the information technology,
telecommunications and manufacturing areas," Jinks said.
"The new grant funding will be used to continue implementation
of the CareerTech Learning Network, introduce new targeted
industries to the six communities, and provide customized training
to the rural workforce," he said. The CareerTech
Learning Network is an online learning system accessible by all
54 technology center campuses across the state.
The long-term goal of the project is to create new jobs in rural
Oklahoma.
"We want this pilot project to serve as a basis for extending
the effort to many more rural communities in Oklahoma,"
Jinks said. "We want to show that skilled workers reside
in rural Oklahoma and the quality of life in our rural communities
is excellent. Businesses can find well-trained workers in our
rural communities." |
Schoolware Inc. employees participate
in a training session at the REVTECH training center at Rural
Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. headquarters in Durant. Schoolware
provides academic measuring and tracking software to public schools.
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The REACH grant is largely due to the hard work and interest
of Watkins, who is concerned about the economic situation facing
rural dwellers.
"I believe in CareerTech education," Watkins
said. "CareerTech has the delivery system and we
need to utilize it as frequently as we can to improve Oklahoma's
human capital. This new grant will help a lot more people in
rural communities have access to 21st century training."
posted 2/13/2003
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