PTP awards three grants as part of Wired program

The Piedmont Triad Partnership has awarded three Focus Grants in two categories as part of the Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development, or Wired, program of work.

Alamance Community College and Piedmont Community College, in partnership with the Caswell County Council for the Arts, took home Focus Talent Development Grants. Alamance Community College will work with area industries and the local school system on a demonstration project to address the shortage of trained machinists.

Piedmont Community College will partner with the Caswell County Council for the Arts to develop a continuing education curriculum for theatrical arts technicians.

Tiger Controls Inc. received a Workforce Training Focus Grant to help assess its employees' skills.

With the awards, the partnership is funding 24 projects through its grant program at a cost of about $1.35 million.

"The Focus Grants propelled the Wired-funded Piedmont Triad Partnership regional transformation initiative forward in 2007 and are showing amazing results," said Theresa Reynolds, the Wired project manager at PTP. "The region can look forward to a 2008 spring event showcasing Focus Grant progress and impact on the Piedmont Triad region."