Federal Training Grant Kicks Off This Month to Certify Skills of Logistics Workforce in Southern California

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California has started a three-year, $4.3 million U.S. Department of Labor training grant to upgrade and certify workforce skills in the nation's largest logistics hub. A group of community colleges began to deliver various courses this January to prepare both entry-level and incumbent workers in the advanced skills needed by the region to enhance its productivity and global competitiveness in this critical industry.

The centerpiece of this grant is the use of first-ever industry-led, national certifications for material handling workers provided by the nationwide Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC). The national leader in certifying the core technical skills of the front-line industrial workforce, the non-profit MSSC offers both a foundational-level Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) and mid-level technical Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) credential. These cover material handling workers in all supply chain facilities: warehouses, distribution centers, transporters, and production sites.

This grant is being implemented under a large regional consortium: the Southern California Logistics Technology Collaborative. The participating community colleges in the SCLTC are San Bernardino, Long Beach, East LA, and Riverside. SCLTC also embraces eight workforce centers, five community organizations, and seven industry partners, including UPS, Port of Long Beach, Schneider Logistics, and Hillwood Alliance CA.

Leo Reddy, CEO, MSSC states as follows: "Located around the country's two busiest container ports (Long Beach and LA) and second largest airborne trade gateway (LAX), the SCLTC is an ideal organization for using the industry-recognized, nationally portable CLA/CLT certifications to advance the skills and knowledge of the front-line supply chain logistics workforce."

Alan Braggins, Grant Manager, adds: "This grant will serve as a major step in providing enhanced workforce skills to the large community of world-class logistics companies in this region who are moving increasingly toward the use of advanced technologies and processes to remain competitive."

Press POC: Neil Reddy, MSSC Executive Director. [email protected] or 703-739-9000, ext. 221.

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SOURCE Manufacturing Skill Standards Council