Belle Glade, Florida – July 6, 2009 -- Workforce Alliance, who earlier in the year awarded Glades General Hospital a $27,500 grant for workforce training, is pleased to announce that 44 nursing staff have completed the program and have been awarded advanced certifications.  The training program was designed to help the nursing staff prepare for the use of greater technology when the hospital transitions into its modern new facility, the Lakeside Medical Center, later this year.                                                     

Workforce Alliance’s Employed Worker Training Program is a funding source that is available to eligible businesses seeking to improve the skills and qualifications of their current employees.  The recent program with Glades General Hospital provided training for 21 staff members to earn Healthcare Certification Level One and for 21 additional staff to attain Level Two Certification.  Another four employees completed training to become on-staff training professionals.  As a result of the training, the participating employees increased their skills and many became eligible for higher level positions.

Workforce Alliance’s total Employed Worker Training program during the past fiscal year awarded $546,994 in training grants to a total of nineteen Palm Beach County employers.  This resulted in job-related training for over 450 employees and an overall economic investment in the County of over $1.8 million, including the $1.3 million in contributions made by the businesses.

Businesses seeking information on the Employed Worker Training program and how it may benefit their business may contact Gerry Genovese, Director of Business Services at Workforce Alliance, 340-1061, ext. 2211.

Workforce Alliance is the organization chartered by the State of Florida to develop, create and retain a quality workforce system in Palm Beach County.   As the workforce solution driving economic growth in the County, Workforce Alliance offers its professional services, including access to local employment information, to all employers and job seekers in the County.