Governor Peter Shumlin is highlighting new grants for workforce development and efforts to re-organize the state's job training programs.
On Wednesday, Shumlin and Labor Secretary Annie Noonan traveled to the headquarters of Cabot Cooperative Creamery on the outskirts of Montpelier to announce two federal grants.
One grant will help unemployed people start new businesses. Noonan said the $50,000 grant will include mentoring.
"We know that we have people out there that have had good ideas, and great skills, they just need mentoring to move them forward. So this is an opportunity for us to connect people with good business ideas who just need some support to help launch those ideas," Nonan said.
A $1 million grant will enhance training for jobs that employers are trying to fill.
Noonan noted that Vermont currently does not have a training program for workers heading for jobs in so-called clean rooms like those used at IBM and at AnC Bio, which is slated to open a medical products facility in Newport next year.