Vol. 4, No. 4, April 2007
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Education on the State
ACCC offers free language and technology training under a state grant
Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? I think that just as important as feeding your stomach is “feeding your brain.” I’m pleased as punch to let you know that there will be some “free brain lunch” for Atlantic City casino workers looking to sharpen their language and technology skills. Thanks to a $613,590 contract from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to Atlantic Cape Community College, many casino workers will enjoy that free lunch for their brains!
But, everyone knows that someone pays for every lunch. Who is paying for this contract? By statute, the state of New Jersey sets aside a small portion of the fees paid by employers into the unemployment compensation fund, for use in training programs. As you can imagine, big employers like the casino industry pay millions into that larger unemployment compensation fund on an annual basis.
The state returns a portion of that through an opportunity to train “incumbent” or currently employed workers in customized training contracts. That simply means that if your employees are interested in doing some training, they can get some public funding to cover the cost. The idea is that by training workers, the industry becomes more productive and grows. And, if the industry grows, tax revenues grow and the state prospers.
There is an employer’s match for the training fund. For this new contract coming to Atlantic City, the employer’s match requires that the workers get trained while on the payroll, rather than on their own time. So, in essence you’ll be paid to learn and enjoy a free brain lunch!
Right now, the following employers are taking advantage of this opportunity: Bally’s/Wild Wild West, Caesars, Harrah’s, Showboat, Borgata, Tropicana and all three Trump properties. The majority of classes are in English as a Second Language and computer training, but there are also supervisory skills classes, culinary classes, a surveillance refresher and an advanced electronics class.
There are 60 classes of English as a Second Language being scheduled for the spring and fall. The curriculum starts at the beginner level and goes up progressively to an advanced language program concentrating on pronunciation skills. You will be tested to see at what level you belong so that you can take best advantage of the learning experience.
In addition, there are 140 sessions of computer training, starting from Introduction to Computers and beginner and intermediate Microsoft Office classes in Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. This is a great way to power up your technology skills. The more technology skills you can learn, the more valuable you become to your employer.
The best part of all of this is that these classes are taking place right on the property sites in Atlantic City. You won’t have to travel from your place of employment, for the most part. The instructors, from Atlantic Cape Community College, sometimes bring their traveling computer lab right with them.
If you are interested in “feeding your brain” this spring or fall, get in touch with your training department. They are the people scheduling the classes and booking casino workers into the program. And, even if you don’t take advantage of this program, keep your eyes and ears open for other opportunities to learn and grow. Atlantic Cape Community College has a full-service campus in Atlantic City, and there are many offerings there to whet your intellectual appetite. Just as your stomach can growl and groan when hungry, your brain needs stimulation and learning to stay healthy and alert.
