Legislature approves $11.2 million to expand CareerTech programs
The Oklahoma Legislature recently appropriated $11.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to establish and expand vital Oklahoma CareerTech workforce development programs.
The Legislature appropriated $5 million to CareerTech to create a program to train broadband infrastructure installation workers. The program will help create a workforce to expand broadband connectivity in underserved areas.
“There is a need for broadband installation in Oklahoma,” said Lee Denney, Oklahoma CareerTech interim director. “Creating this program shows CareerTech’s ability to be agile with industry as needs arise. We work with industry to create the workforce to fill Oklahoma’s needs.”
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Pontotoc Tech opens Industrial Training Center
Pontotoc Technology Center recently held a grand opening for its new Industrial Training Center.
The 14,000-square-foot facility combines industrial workspace and classrooms and gives the technology center flexibility for its programs, Superintendent Travis Graham told The Ada News.
Read more about the new center on The Ada News website.
Video available of virtual OEIP session
A video of the Oklahoma Education and Industry Partnerships virtual session in September is available on Oklahoma CareerTech’s YouTube page.
Participants heard from experts about careers in software and gaming; information technology educational paths; soft skills and learning styles for IT students; and esports.
Metro Tech hosts business resource fair as part of Minority Enterprise Development Week
A business resource fair and more will be held at Metro Technology Centers’ main campus this week as part of Minority Enterprise Development Week.
The event, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 13 will also include a presentation from the Kansas Federal Reserve and a community discussion about the Henrietta B. Foster Center.
Read more about the event and others during MED Week on The Journal Record’s website.
Adult education director honored
One of Oklahoma CareerTech’s adult education directors received the Oklahoma Workforce Association Frontline Staff Award at the 2022 Oklahoma Works Conference recently.
Fran Colombin has worked in the adult education program at the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology since 1998. She started as an instructor and became director in 2015.
Colombin developed an online adult education class that was available to all programs in her workforce area. She also volunteers to help other programs and mentor new adult education directors.
Oklahoma CareerTech began administering Oklahoma’s adult education and family literacy programs in 2014.
Central Tech gives senator tour of programs
Central Technology Center instructors talked last week to U.S. Sen. James Lankford about how they train students to meet workforce needs.
Lankford, along with Lee Denney, interim state director of Oklahoma CareerTech, and Skye McNiel, OkACTE executive director, toured several of Central Tech’s programs, including truck driver training.
The three met with students and instructors and discussed needs in cybersecurity, oil and gas, truck driving, powersports and lineman technology.
Read more about the visit on Central Tech’s website.
Useful links
Follow us on Twitter at @okcareertech and find us on Facebook at OklahomaCareerTech and on Instagram at oklahomacareertech and read our blog, Oklahoma CareerTech Delivers. Find our podcast at https://www.ctconversations.org/.
For news about Oklahoma’s CareerTech System, subscribe to CareerTech communications.
State Agency Assistance at a Glance
National Center for Research in Career and Technical Education
OK Career Guide Training Opportunities
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