Georgetown, DE – Governor Jack Markell, Department of Correction administrators, and representatives from Delaware Technical Community College yesterday celebrated the graduation of 10 offenders from the Sussex Community Corrections Center (SCCC) who completed the culinary program offered at its newly renovated training facility.  That facility and certificate program were established as part of the Markell administration’s focus on reducing recidivism through a series of criminal justice reforms, including the expansion of reentry resources, better coordination among agencies to connect offenders to existing services, and the creation of skills training for offenders to better position them to secure and maintain employment when they return to the community.

This fall, the Department of Correction and Delaware Tech joined together in a partnership that places chef instructors into SCCC’s culinary training facility to provide offenders with classroom instruction and hands-on skills in its commercial-grade kitchen.  Today marked the graduation of the second class that has completed the three-week introductory course that focuses on food safety and basic food preparation techniques.  All graduates earned the nationally-recognized ServSafe food certification and Delaware Tech’s Commercial Kitchen Safety Certification and are now eligible to continue training opportunities through more advanced community-based culinary courses.

“We all believe in you, and we hope that you will believe in yourself and go on to do great things,” Governor Markell said to the graduates.  “We want to set people up for success, and the fact that you have invested your time in this program and have taken an interest in learning new skills indicates your determination to pursue a productive path for your lives.”

“We’ve been working for the past year with the Department of Correction to identify potential programs for offenders who are close to release so that we can provide them with training in four to eight weeks that can lead directly to employment,” said Delaware Tech’s Owens Campus Director of Workforce Development and Community Education Christopher Moody. “The success we’ve experienced with the Commercial Kitchen Safety Certificate training has motivated us to move forward with additional programs like the small engine repair training that will begin in January.”

Department of Correction Commissioner Robert Coupe noted that a career in the culinary field can be fulfilling and that it will connect each new graduate to many significant events in other’s lives.  “Through your work in this industry you will be a part of the lives of so many people who visit restaurants to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions,” he said.  “While you may not know many of your customers, through the magic of food and its ability to bring people together you will play a role in creating many memorable and cherished moments.”

During Thursday’s ceremony, Markell recognized SCCC Warden William Oettel and his team for expanding skills and occupational training programs for offenders and for demonstrating that they can be established cost-effectively.  All funds used to complete renovations to the culinary training facility, purchase its equipment, and pay for the culinary instruction have been generated on-site; no taxpayer dollars were used.  Coupe also recognized the late Matt Haley, founder of Delaware restaurant group SoDel Concepts, for his inspiration, personal support of early culinary training courses at SCCC, and his donation of several pieces of kitchen equipment used by culinary program students.

Over the past year the Department of Correction has partnered with educational institutions and non-profits across Delaware to offer more than a half-dozen certification programs to offenders who are supervised at the DOC’s work release and violation of probation centers.  Most recently, in addition to the 10 offenders who graduated from yesterday’s culinary training program, this week 25 offenders from Wilmington’s Plummer Community Corrections Center received industry certifications through an occupational training program also established in conjunction with Delaware Tech.  Nearly 100 offenders have enrolled in certification programs this year, and the programs will be offered to increased numbers of offenders in 2016.

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State’s TechHire initiative brings together business community and training partners to give Delawareans new opportunities to fill openings in well-paying technology fields

Wilmington, DE – Building on efforts to ensure every Delawarean has access to education and training to thrive in today’s economy, Governor Markell today announced new opportunities for workers to gain certifications for Information Technology jobs. Delaware TechHire, which was previewed in the Governor’s State of the State address and applauded by the White House, creates a partnership between businesses, primarily in the financial sector, and training partners, which will allow participants to become software developers in months rather than years.

Beginning in September, Zip Code Wilmington, a new coding school that will offer its first classes in the fall, and Delaware Tech will provide intensive, accelerated education programs lasting about three months to prepare participants to earn Java certifications. The state has awarded Zip Code a $250,000 grant from its economic development funds to help cover startup costs.

“In an economy forever transformed by new technology and global competition, it’s more important than ever that we give Delawareans the best chance to acquire skills most valued in the workplace,” said Markell. “With hundreds of open IT jobs in the state, it’s clear that we must think differently about training in this field and connect more people to well-paying technology careers.”

Several of Delaware’s biggest employers, including JP Morgan Chase & Co., Capital One, Barclays, and Bank of America, have joined the Tech Hire partnership and will ensure that people who successfully complete the training program will be able to enter a paid apprenticeship, which could lead to a coding job assuming the apprentice fulfills his or her responsibilities. Entry-level coding positions are estimated by Delaware companies to pay about $55,000 per year and offer the chance the climb the professional ladder in a growing field.

Beginning in September, Zip Code and Del Tech will both offer their first 20-person classes. The TechHire companies have committed to begin hiring workers from these programs in 2015 and to hire at least 100 in 2016, with the hope that the training initiatives will be able to continue to grow to meet the increasing IT needs of the state’s business community.

Later tonight, Markell will participate in a launch ceremony for Zip Code Wilmington, where leaders of that program will provide further details about the training they will offer.

Training a 21^st Century Workforce  

Delaware’s TechHire initiative is part of a series of efforts announced in Governor Markell’s State of the State address to rethink the state’s approach to workforce training and ensure more workers gain the skills to meet the demands of key industries in the new economy.

Last month, the Governor announced 15 Pathways to Prosperity grants for high schools to implement programs that allow students to earn workplace experience and college credit in high-demand fields before they graduate.

On Thursday, he unveiled details of a program targeted to at-risk young workers who will receive training at Delaware Tech that will lead to a job at a Delaware health care provider.

Comments by Delaware Tech Hire Partners:

Del Tech- Mark Brainard, President:

“Delaware Tech has a long history of providing education and training programs that develop students’ competencies to work in many different disciplines including technology- related career fields,” said Delaware Tech President Mark Brainard.  We are pleased to be an active partner in the TechHire Initiative and are excited about the opportunities our accelerated programming academies will offer the local workforce.  Last month, with the support from a JPMorgan Chase Foundation grant, we also began offering an accelerated program in computer networking that is preparing participants to earn the CISCO Certified Network Associate credential, also needed for in-demand IT jobs in Delaware.”

“JPMorgan Chase has identified Delaware as one of its strategic worldwide technology hubs,” said Jen McDermott, CAO Talent Pipeline Programs at JP Morgan Chase & Co., and a member of group of business representatives leading the Tech Hire initiative. “As we continue to grow here in Delaware it is crucial for us to have a reliable pipeline of local tech talent. That’s why we are excited to partner with the State of Delaware and other stakeholders in the TechHire initiative.”

“There is a huge demand in Wilmington and Delaware for trained IT professionals, and we cannot afford to continue to let these jobs go unfilled,” said Jim Stewart, Chairman, Zip Code Wilmington. “Our goal is to graduate and place over 100 people per year into local companies, people who will live in our communities and help make our economy stronger.”

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Initiative brings together health care providers, non-profits, Delaware Works, and Delaware Tech to give Delawareans new opportunities to fill openings in growing health care field

Wilmington, DE – Building on efforts to ensure every Delawarean has access to education and training to thrive in today’s economy, Governor Markell today announced a new job training opportunity targeted at young workers, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Governor, who previewed the initiative in his State of the State address, worked with McKinsey Social Initiative to make Wilmington one of the pilot cities in the organization’s Generation USA youth employment program.  By bringing together health care employers with non-profits and Delaware Tech, the program provides Wilmington young adults accelerated training as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in a fast-growing sector of the economy. Those who complete the program, pass a certification test and interview successfully are guaranteed jobs with Delaware employers.

“In today’s increasingly competitive global economy, we can only build a strong middle class and give all Delawareans a chance to realize their potential if we make it possible for everyone to prepare for good jobs in growing industries,” said Markell. “Youth unemployment in particular remains persistently high across the country and those who struggle to find a stable job at a young age are often unable to catch up to their peers and make the most of their talents. I’m thrilled that McKinsey Social Initiative has chosen Wilmington as one of the first sites of Generation USA and I thank Delaware Tech and Delaware Works, along with our employer and non-profit partners for making this opportunity available for our young workers.”

Geared toward low-income, 18-29 year olds who are currently unemployed or underemployed, Generation offers an eight-week boot camp CNA course in partnership with Delaware Tech.  The program’s recruitment partners include the successful Jobs for Delaware Graduates program, which has demonstrated a tremendous track record of helping the most at-risk students graduate and transition into college or the workforce, as well as Goodwill and Career Tech.

“Generation is grateful for the support of Governor Markell and the many wonderful local partners in Wilmington who are making this program possible,” said Dr. Mona Mourshed, Executive Director of Generation. “Delaware is at the front lines of the effort across the country and the world to better prepare young people to be successful in the middle-skill jobs that employers are so desperately seeking to fill.”

The Generation boot camp integrates technical training in the classroom and at job sites, along with behavioral and mindset skills, which will help students prepare to overcome both workplace and personal challenges. Eight students are expected to participate in each cohort, consistent with state regulations on classroom teacher-student ratios. The first set of employer partners, Saint Francis Healthcare and Cadia Rehabilitation, have been engaged from the beginning of the program, and the curriculum has been developed with their input to meet their employment needs and those of other sizable health care organizations. Generation plans to bring on additional employment partners soon.

“Generation is an exciting program that will help us meet our ongoing need for highly qualified employees,” said Cathy Weaver, Vice President, Mission, Ministry and Human Resources, at Saint Francis Healthcare. “We’re so pleased to be partnering with Generation—and looking forward to welcoming our first hires from the program.”

Participants will begin the process of applying and interviewing with the employers by the third week of the program. Social support and mentorship will be available throughout the course to enable even the most vulnerable young people to be successful. Students will receive stipends during the course. Generation’s model also ensures that graduates of the program will continue to have access to support and regular follow-up contacts for the first six months of their employment.

Graduates will be qualified for certified nurse assistant positions, placing them on a career path where additional training can allow them to take on roles of increasing responsibility, from medical assistants to Registered Nurse jobs.

The first class will start on June 1, and Generation will be recruiting additional classes to start later in the year. Interested young people or employers should contact generationwilmington@mckinseysocialinitiative.org.

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Training a 21^st Century Workforce Delaware’s participation in the Generation USA youth employment program is part of a series of efforts announced in Governor Markell’s State of the State address to rethink the state’s approach to workforce training and ensure more workers gain the skills to meet the demands of key industries in the new economy.

Last month, the Governor announced 15 Pathways to Prosperity grants for high schools to implement programs that allow students to earn workplace experience and college credit in high-demand fields before they graduate.

Next week, he will unveil details about the launch of an IT training program that has already been recognized by the White House as a model for preparing people for well-paying technology jobs.

McKinsey Social Initiative

Founded by McKinsey & Company in 2014, McKinsey Social Initiative applies problem solving expertise to develop innovative approaches to complex social challenges. McKinsey Social Initiative houses individual programs, each of which focuses on a single issue and brings together different partners from the private, public, and social sectors to design and implement solutions. It is an independent 501(c)(3). Generation is McKinsey Social Initiative’s first program.

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Delaware students will not owe application fees at six state institutions, which addresses a barrier to college entry

Wilmington, DE – Continuing the state’s commitment to increasing access to post-secondary education and training, Governor Markell, the University of Delaware, and Delaware State University have announced that the schools will waive their college application fees for Delaware’s high school seniors when they apply during College Application Month (CAM), which runs now through November 21, 2014. All students who are residents of the state are eligible for the waiver from UD and DSU.

The Universities join Delaware Tech and Wilmington University, which have for the past two years waived fees for Delaware students who attend schools that participate in CAM. All public high schools will hold CAM activities over the next month. Among other Delaware institutions, students can also apply to Wesley College and Goldey-Beacom College without charge, meaning no Delaware seniors will owe application fees to six of the state’s colleges and universities during College Application Month.

“I applaud our colleges and universities for working to make their admissions process as accessible and encouraging to our students as possible,” said Markell. “With goods jobs increasingly requiring education or training beyond high school, addressing obstacles to a college education is vital to supporting our students and strengthening our state, where our economy’s growth depends on having a highly-skilled workforce.

“Financial concerns too often discourage students from college and the state is working to make sure our youth are aware of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities. But students can’t take advantage of those if they never apply, so I’m thrilled that our schools are sending this welcoming message to all Delaware students.”

The Governor has made it a priority to remove financial and other barriers for students who wish to attend college. A partnership with the College Board, launched last year and continuing this fall, provides college-ready seniors with information on college affordability and financial aid, as well as materials to help them choose colleges. Low-income students receive application-fee waivers, which have traditionally been complicated to obtain, for up to eight schools.

School Comments

“As the state flagship, the University of Delaware takes great pride in providing access to the extraordinary, life changing experiences provided through scholarship at our campus,” said Jose Aviles, Director of Admissions at the University of Delaware. “We recognize the great challenges in increasing college participation rates across Delaware and are pleased to join the state’s efforts. We continue to work toward removing barriers so that Delawareans can realize their dream of a higher education at UD.”

“We are pleased to be able to assist students as they take this initial step toward attaining a college degree by removing financial barriers that may come with submitting the admissions application,” said Erin Hill, assistant vice president for enrollment at Delaware State University. “Every state must play an active role in increasing its proportion of college graduates to ensure our nation’s competitiveness in a global marketplace. This focused effort in Delaware to create a college-going culture moves us toward that goal.”

“We fully support College Application Month by providing volunteers in the schools to assist students with the application process and allowing all Delaware high school seniors the ability to apply to the college with no application fee,” said Dr. Mark Brainard, president of Delaware Technical Community College. “This is one way Delaware Tech can remove the barriers to access for students who dream of attending college.”

“Wilmington University’s long history of providing opportunity to anyone seeking an advanced degree has been in lock-step with Governor Markell’s vision for educating Delaware’s workforce,” said Wilmington University President Dr. Jack Varsalona. Wilmingtonwaives the application fee for prospective students, which they can experience at the school’s October 22 open house event at locations statewide, in addition to ongoing online and face-to-face information events.

Further information on College Application Month

To receive a fee waiver when applying to the University of Delaware, students should select “Yes, I participated in the UD Senior Search Program” on the Common Application. As long as they submit their application during the Delaware CAM time frame, the University will honor the fee waiver if they select it. Counselors do not need to provide any additional verification for this waiver.

For Delaware State, once a student completes the application at www.desu.edu/apply-now, they should select “Request a Fee Waiver” on the Submit and Pay screen.  The University will not require further documentation for the fee waiver during College Application Month period.

As part of College Application Month, which began this week, students in every high school will have the opportunity fill out their applications in computer labs and write college application essays during English class. Volunteers from employers and college campuses throughout the state are assisting students. Another part of the effort, in partnership with Stand By Me, assists families with filling out the FAFSA form, individual school aid forms, and scholarship applications.

Last year, for the first time on record, every college-ready student in Delaware who was on track to graduate from high school applied. In previous years, as many as one out of five did not.