Grand Canyon Times

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded a $15 million grant to an Arizona aid coalition to help dislocated workers find employment.

Arizona Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training (QUEST), a coalition made up of the Arizona Commerce Authority, six community colleges and Arizona@Work, received the grant, which will be used to help unemployed workers, dislocated workers and those affected by the pandemic find work, as well as providing other "resources and opportunities," according to a release by AZCommerce.

“As jobs expand in our state, we are dedicated to ensuring that all workers have the opportunity to fully participate in the workforce,” Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said in the release.

Six Arizona workforce development zones, including the counties of Cochise, Maricopa, Mohave/La Paz, Pima, Yavapai and Yuma, will be served by the new program, the release stated.

“As jobs expand in our state, we are dedicated to ensuring that all workers have the opportunity to fully participate in the workforce,” Watson said. “As the pandemic displaced workers, the ACA along with our partners in industry, academia, workforce development and more stepped in to provide critical employment support services. These dollars will allow us to redouble those efforts and help more people find employment that enables them to thrive.”

The QUEST program focuses on individuals who were separated from employment or marginalized, including those who lack a secondary diploma, those in poverty, English language learners, disconnected youth ages 16-24, migrant workers, Native Americans, people in rural areas, those in the criminal justice system, veterans and disabled people, the release specified.

“Arizona Western College is proud to have taken a lead role in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority in securing this grant," Daniel Corr, President of Arizona Western College, said in the release. "As one of 10 community college districts around the state poised to provide workforce development and help workers rebound, AWC is very proud to have played an integral role in the dynamic expansion of Arizona’s economy in recent years.”

The program will concentrate on placing workers in high-demand fields such as healthcare, manufacturing and professional and business services like legal, accounting, computer systems design and more, the release added.

“These funds will provide an opportunity for thousands of more Arizonans to prepare for high wage, high skill jobs, through your community colleges,” Corr said.