[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HARTFORD JOB CORPS CENTER

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today I recognize Hartford, 
Connecticut's selection as a site for a Job Corps Center. The 
Department of Labor recently announced that Connecticut's capital city 
was one of four locations selected nationwide. Many years of planning 
have gone into Hartford's bid and the new Center enjoys the 
enthusiastic support of leaders in government, business, education and 
job training. The selection is testimony to the commitment of the 
Hartford community to our most disadvantaged young people, and that is 
why I endorsed the city's strong proposal.
  In 1995, the Department of Labor had requested proposals for Job 
Corps Center sites and Hartford's joint application with the city of 
Bloomfield was regarded highly. Unfortunately, the funding for proposed 
new Centers was rescinded in the middle of the review process and no 
new Job Corps Centers were selected. But Hartford, Connecticut 
residents did not give up and the Department of Labor vowed to honor 
its commitment to new Centers in the future.
  Hartford, Connecticut is a thriving business and cultural center, 
headquarters to major insurance and financial centers and home to 
renown theater and art museums. It is situated on the banks of the 
historic Connecticut River which was heralded as an American Heritage 
River last year. Hartford is now embarking on a major waterfront 
residential, recreational and workplace development plan.
  The city's overall unemployment rate is at 2.9 percent, but the 
unemployment rate for youth ages 16-19 is much higher. Despite 
Connecticut's economic recovery, too many young people are being left 
out of a job market that demands high-level skills. Hartford has many 
of the problems facing other large cities, including abandoned 
industrial sites, crumbling schools and double-digit highschool dropout 
rates. At one Hartford high school, the dropout rate was more than 50 
percent last year. That statistic is unacceptable and why I support the 
need for a Job Corp Center in Hartford. It will make a critical 
difference in the lives of so many at-risk youth.
  Job Corps has been providing education and training for disadvantaged 
youth for more than 34 years. The program is so successful because it 
is a voluntary year-round program offering education, training and 
support services, including meals, child care and counseling. It 
maintains a zero tolerance for drugs and violence.
  Hartford is poised to undergo an economic revitalization and the Job 
Corps Center is a true investment in our most under-served youth. The 
city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut have committed $4 million 
toward the total development cost of $11.5 million and the Hartford 
Housing authority is contributing the site, valued at $420,000. The 
Center will be located on 12 acres in the Charter Oak Business Park 
being developed by the Housing Authority on the site of the former 
Charter Oak Terrace public housing project.
  When completed in 2000, the Hartford center will serve more than 200 
non-residential students each year in basic education and vocational 
training programs and provide on-site child care. Many organizations 
have pledged resources to ensure the success of the Center and most 
important of all, employers stand ready to hire young people who 
complete the Job Corps program.
  Mr. President, I congratulate the City of Hartford and I commend the 
Department of Labor for their selection.

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