Costa Announces $2 Million Grant for Kern County Employers’ Training Resource

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) applauded the announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor that the Kern County Employers' Training Resource (ETR) will receive a $2,107,959 grant from the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP). The grant will enable the ETR to continue providing a full array of services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers including vocational education, on-the-job training, work experience, case management, and job search assistance in both English and Spanish.

"Our recovering economy depends on a strong and vibrant workforce," Costa said. "This critical grant will allow the Kern County Employers' Training Resource to help farmworkers develop the skills they need to keep our economy thriving."

Verna Lewis, Executive Director of the Kern County ETR added, "This funding will help us continue to build a well-trained workforce and a strong economy in Kern County. I am grateful to have the support of the Department of Labor and Congressman Costa."

The NFJP was authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 in order to counter the impact of the chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers who depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor.