Kosmas, Secretary of Labor Announce $15 Million Grant to Assist Space Coast Workers

Labor Department Grant will Aid Space Industry Employees Impacted by the Shuttle Retirement

(Kennedy Space Center, FL) – Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) joined Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in announcing a $15 million grant to assist workers on the Space Coast. The grant was awarded to The Brevard Workforce Development Board to aid thousands of workers who will be impacted by the impending retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

“We must take every step possible to maintain the Space Coast’s highly-skilled workforce and this grant will provide critical support to workers and help them find new job opportunities in our community,” said Suzanne Kosmas. “At the same time, I will continue working to minimize the human spaceflight gap and attract new businesses to the Space Coast in order to strengthen and diversify our economy.”

Funds will help individuals ranging from entry level workers to highly skilled professionals with services including career guidance assistance, job search skills training, resume review, skills assessment and labor market information, and will provide additional types of training and continuing education opportunities. The grant was made available through the Department of Labor’s National Emergency Grants program. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG.

Suzanne Kosmas has fought at every opportunity to support, preserve, and maximize the Space Coast’s highly skilled workforce. In addition to introducing legislation to minimize the spaceflight gap and maintain a robust human spaceflight program, Kosmas has passed multiple amendments to assist local high-tech small businesses, encouraged the Department of Defense to bring new work to the Space Coast, and secured funding for the Brevard Workforce Development Board to assist aerospace workers affected by Shuttle retirement.