Austin, TX – April 13, 2006 – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Small Business and Joint Economic Committees, will host the 2006 Texas Workforce Summit at the Austin Community College Eastview Campus on Tuesday, April 18. The day-long event will promote community college workforce partnerships – a key initiative to expand job opportunities – by offering guidance regarding available federal grant opportunities.

Sen. Cornyn organized the event to provide Texas community colleges the training necessary to increase access to federal resources, allowing them to enhance and expand their workforce training partnerships and prepare their students for better jobs.

“Workforce training partnerships are an important way for Texans to develop new skills or move into new careers,” Cornyn said. “I’ve visited community colleges across Texas to discuss this initiative and I believe they’re making a valuable contribution to creating new opportunities in our state.”

“Economic development and job growth have direct ties to higher education,” said Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president. “We must continue to strengthen partnerships between community colleges and industry for the economic wellbeing of Texas and the rest of the country.”

The initiative is a key part of President Bush’s American Competitiveness Agenda, unveiled earlier this year, to make America more competitive in the global economy. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao will deliver a luncheon keynote address.

Other expected attendees include: Dr. Raymund Paredes, The Commissioner of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; Dr. Stephen Kinslow, President of Austin Community College; Dr. John Pickelman, President of the Board, Texas Association of Community Colleges; and Dr. Ray Garcia, Executive Director, Texas Association of Community Colleges.

Officials from several federal agencies will also speak at the summit, including representatives from the Departments of Labor, Education, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Commerce and Agriculture. Also, a professional grant writer will be on hand to teach basic grant-writing techniques.

Event sponsors include: Texas Association of Community Colleges; Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; Austin Community College District; Texas Workforce Commission; Dallas County Community College District; The College for All Texans Foundation; International School of Truck Driving; IBM; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Bell Helicopter; Jamail Construction; Amarillo College; Houston Community College; and Graeber Simmons and Cowan, Inc.

WHAT: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn hosts Texas Workforce Summit of 2006; day-long event focused on creating economic opportunity through community college workforce partnerships; 40 Texas community colleges to participate; U.S. Labor Secretary Chao to deliver keynote

WHEN: Tuesday, April 18
Summit: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cornyn Remarks: 9:00 a.m.
Chao Keynote: 1:00 p.m.
Cornyn avail: 1:35 p.m.

WHERE: Austin Community College (ACC) Eastview Campus, Health Science Building, #8000, 3401 Webberville Road, Austin, Texas

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