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McCook Gazette

Nelson: More than $4.8 million in stimulus funds for green job training

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sen. Ben Nelson's office

January 20, 2010 -- Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor that Nebraska will receive a total of more than $4.8 million to fund job training in wind, biofuels and green sustainable building technologies. The funds are made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"These stimulus funds will equip Nebraskans with the skills they need to find jobs in today's economy," said Senator Nelson. "The stimulus bill is about creating jobs and laying a foundation for Nebraskans to succeed in these tough times."

The $4,839,511 grant will go to the Nebraska Department of Labor, which will then distribute the funds to partners in western Nebraska, northeast Nebraska and metro Nebraska covering 49 counties in the state. By encouraging collaboration between local partners, community colleges, and employers, the program will develop and implement training and employment strategies in wind, biofuels, and green sustainable building technologies. Following classroom instruction and project simulations, trainees will be placed into structured apprenticeship training programs with partner industries to develop on‐the‐job training skills and to ensure job placement.

The training program will target workers impacted by energy policy, veterans, unemployed individuals, at-risk youth, and individuals with a criminal record. The program aims to recruit 950 Nebraskans, enter more than 860 into training, and have over 730 complete training and earn certification. The funding announced today is being made available through the US Department of Labor's State Energy Sector Partnership and Training program.

Senator Nelson played a key role in the passage of the $787 billion stimulus bill. He worked with a bipartisan group of nearly 20 Senators to better focus The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on tax cuts for the middle class and job creation for millions of Americans. Senator Nelson led the group through the initial bill line by line, dollar by dollar, to reduce spending and cut out $108 billion of inefficient or less-stimulative spending. The bipartisan group helped the improved bill win congressional approval. President Obama signed it into law February 17, 2009.

Senator Nelson is posting information about the release of stimulus finds on his website as it becomes available. Visit http://bennelson.senate.gov/feature_4.cfm for more information.

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  • Well here comes the slush fund called stimulus that Ben is counting on to help him get re-elected.

    So lets get it straight. The Federal government taxes us takes our money uses most of it in administration and Bureucrats. Then they send back pennies on the dollar and we are suposed to proclaim Ben as the savior of the State.

    -- Posted by Chaco1 on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 10:15 AM
  • *

    This is all deficit spending and is enslaving our nation to the Chinese...thanks Benedict!

    -- Posted by NebraskaMark on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 11:11 AM

  • OH BEN OH BEN WHY DON'T YOU JUST FADE AWAY, YOUR MAKING AN A** OF YOURSELF. Don't you understand nobody likes or respects you anymore. Just shut up and fade away, your glory days are over.

    -- Posted by salamat on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 5:10 PM

  • Lets hope for gods sake they don't want to still erect a statue of him and rename the airport. If they do it should be predicated on the money they receive from the helicopters that are being produced.

    -- Posted by salamat on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 5:12 PM

  • How can Ben Nelson keep running his mouth & trying to do something right. I guess its hard for him to believe that he is a 100 % failure. Can't he read the writting on the line? Or can he even see and think correct?

    Trying to do somthing right and make people forget what he has done.

    Good thinking salamat. Maybe they could name the helicopter plant after him. Seems both of them are a failure.

    What might he come up with next. It will be good and he will try it.

    -- Posted by Just a reader on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 6:47 PM

  • I wonder how Benedict would feel if his yearly income was only $35K. His yearly income now would be a something everyone would want. All that money to talk about things that benefit people who make six figures per year.

    We need a new senator. Look at Massachusetts. They don't even want to have a Democrat with any power. My vote will not be for him. Guaranteed!!

    -- Posted by edbru on Thu, Jan 21, 2010, at 8:32 PM
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