Government grants may soon help recently displaced workers get the skills they need to compete in today’s job market.Recently, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was at MATC to announce a $7 million special competitive grant that states, such as Wisconsin, can apply for.

Duncan praised the value of community colleges, believing that they can be the key to changing our economy by allowing people the ability to develop a new career, or improve in an older one rather quickly.

“Community colleges are invaluable resources for adults seeking to acquire new skills that are needed by employers,” Duncan said.

Gov. Jim Doyle and Manpower Chairman and CEO Jeffery Foerres also were in attendance.

After the announcement, some students were allowed to share their experiences or ask questions to any of the panel members.

One student, Angela Olson, Student Senate President of the Oak Creek Campus, asked how Duncan felt about making the Pell Grant an entitlement, thus ensuring funding would always be available.

Duncan stated that both himself and Obama would be very supportive of that idea.

Gov. Doyle also praised community colleges, including MATC, adding that he “will be first in line with the application” for the grant money.

However, some of the Student Senate members seemed troubled with his statements due to a proposal he made that would have cut spending for community colleges.

According to Dave Sommers, Student Governor, Gov. Doyle made similar accolades at a meeting last December.

“He talks about how important tech schools are, but cut the tech schools and gave it to the four-years,” Sommers expressed.

Sommers is referring to the proposal in which $2 million would have been cut from the two-year, or community colleges, while an increase of $4.4 million would have been given to four-year schools.

It was only after lobbying by students, including Sommers, that the joint Finance Committee denied the proposal and “backed up” community colleges with $3.4 million increase in funding.

Although the students felt this way, they didn’t feel it was the right time to express any of it during the question and answer section.

The grant Duncan announced is designed to create programs to help displaced workers find second careers.

States interested must apply for the grants and explain how they will help those workers get the skills they need. The Department of Education will start awarding grants in the fall.

Duncan announces new grants for states to help displaced workers. (Bob Hanson)