McCaskill: Kansas City to Directly Benefit from White House "TechHire Initiative'

Press Release

The Kansas City region will directly benefit from a new White House initiative announced today to bolster tech jobs, said U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill--a longtime supporter of federal job-training opportunities and of policies to grow the nation's tech economy:

"It won't surprise anyone in Kansas City that the region is being recognized for its culture of innovation. This new initiative will bring together the best and brightest of Kansas City's employers and educators to grow more good-paying jobs and tech opportunities for our state."

The White House announced today that Kansas City, Mo.--along with the Full Employment Council and Think Big Partners--will provide accelerated training to the chronically unemployed through the "Reboot U" program. According to the White House: the University of Central Missouri and Metropolitan Community College have committed to providing customized training to program participants in healthcare organizations, small businesses, and large end-user IT firms including Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics University of Kansas Medical Center, and WireCo World Group. Partners will leverage a $500,000 grant from Missouri Division of Workforce Development. Partners will provide training opportunities that include a "shark tank" styled initial interview, generalized training in core IT competencies, specific sector training crafted by experts in target industries, and an 8-12 week paid internship or apprenticeship.

The effort is part of a nationwide "TechHire Initiative," aimed at giving more Americans "pathways to well-paying technology jobs."

McCaskill last year helped lead the effort in Congress to renew the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which renews the Workforce Investment Act--legislation that has a proven track-record of boosting job opportunities for Missourians.

McCaskill, also a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over technology policy, has worked to grow the tech economy in Missouri and across the country. In recent years, McCaskill partnered with Google to host workshops in St. Louis and Kansas City to help Missouri small businesses better market and sell their goods online.

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