By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

THE Agency for Human Resources Development stands to receive $1.09 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor for workforce training program this year, AHRD acting director David Dell’Isola announced yesterday.
Dell’Isola said the amount that Guam will be receiving for this year is $145,000 more than what it got from the previous program year.
Dell’Isola attributes the funding increase to “progress made by AHRD and the Guam Department of Labor in successfully implementing structured training models.”
AHRD’s programs include career development and training for Guam’s high school students, retraining for displaced workers and apprenticeships, targetting demand-driven occupations.
Dell’Isola also credits the funding increase to the close working relationship between Guam and its federal counterparts. “A critical part of grant implementation is regular communication with the federal office, keeping them apprised of our efforts and progress to date. The U.S. DOL recognizes that while there is still so much to be done, we have made substantial progress.”
AHRD will be accepting proposals until April 30 from those interested in providing training services to the participants for program year 2007, which begins on July 1.
Guam has a five-year plan to strengthen the island’s workforce through employment, education and economic development. The plan was approved by the U.S. DOL’s Employment and Training Administration in 2005.