Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that the state Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development will award more than $1.3 million to fund school-to-work programs for at-risk students throughout Missouri.
JMG is modeled after Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) a nationally recognized dropout prevention and workforce preparation program for at-risk youth delivered in the classroom through the support of school and business partnerships. The objective of the program is to help young Missourians secure a quality job that will lead to a good career either directly after high school or after further education at the post secondary level.
The Jobs for Missouri Graduates (JMG) grants are being released for the 2006-2007 school year in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Southeast, Southwest, Ozark, South Central and Kansas City and Vicinity and East Jackson County workforce regions. Approximately 800 students will benefit from the program this year through the program, which is administered by local Workforce Investment Boards and their subcontractors.
“Improving opportunities for all Missourians has been one of my highest priorities as governor,” Blunt said. “These resources will help our most vulnerable young Missourians obtain the skills, training and attention they need to become productive members of the greatest workforce in the world. I am particularly pleased that a portion of this years funding will be used to provide career counseling in math, science, engineering and technology, key areas of instruction I have focused on to help young Missourians prepare to enter the global economy.”
To achieve its objective, JMG focuses on keeping students in school through graduation and during this time improving their rate of success in acquiring employability and occupational competencies. The program will provide intensive job and career counseling, employability skills training, leadership activities, work experience opportunities, job placement and follow-up services for 12 months.
JMG is modeled after Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) a nationally recognized dropout prevention and workforce preparation program for at-risk youth delivered in the classroom through the support of school and business partnerships. The objective of the program is to help young Missourians secure a quality job that will lead to a good career either directly after high school or after further education at the post secondary level. The press release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development notes that, since Blunt took office in January 2005, Missouri employers and entrepreneurs have created more than 38,000 new jobs. As governor, Blunt has led the effort to enact meaningful litigation reform, workers’ compensation reform and introduced his Quality Jobs Initiative to help local communities compete for jobs in the national and international marketplace.
