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Chase investing in state

Oct. 24
The News-Star, Monroe, Louisiana, on Chase investing in state:
JPMorgan Chase employs about 3,400 workers in Louisiana with considerably more than half of them — about 1,900 — in Monroe.
This week, the company invested in its future workforce in Louisiana and Monroe with a $1 million pledge to the state’s new Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy fund, known as WISE.
WISE is designed to provide funding to ramp up programs at Louisiana’s community and technical colleges and universities that will provide graduates for high-demand, high-wage jobs in the state.
Chase’s grant, which the state will add with $4 million, was the first major private sector commitment made to WISE.
It will be directed to the Foundation for Louisiana’s Community and Technical Colleges to fund statewide workforce training, much of which will be done at Louisiana Delta Community College in northeastern Louisiana.
Chase’s investment is part of the bank’s five-year, $250 million global New Skills at Work initiative.
“Helping people gain the work skills they need will transform lives and strengthen our state’s economy,” said John Kallenborn, president of Chase in Louisiana. “Every day, employers tell us they can’t fill good-paying jobs because there simply aren’t enough trained workers.
“Working with the WISE Fund, we can provide great careers for our citizens and continued economic prosperity for Louisiana.”
The need to produce such qualified workers is urgent. The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Occupational Forecast predicts a shortage of more than 80,000 skilled workers during the next decade.
Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan, who once worked at Delta, was quick to praise Chase.
“The workforce demand is unprecedented, and for JPMorgan Chase, a global financial leader, to quickly respond is verification of their commitment to the long-term success of Louisiana and its people,” he said.
We join with that praise for one of our top 10 largest private employers and hope other corporate leaders will also see the value of investing in a stronger future workforce for Louisiana.
Online:
http://www.thenewsstar.com

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