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Training Resources and Internship Networks

SECTION 179.   There shall be a training resources and internship networks, or TRAIN, grant program for the long-term unemployed. The program shall be overseen by the office of coordination within the department of higher education, in cooperation with the executive office of labor and workforce development. The office of coordination shall provide grants through item 7066-0000 of section 2 to not fewer than 2 community colleges to implement training programs for the long-term unemployed. The program shall be focused on the development of skills needed to assist individuals in returning to the workforce and may be based on the industry-specific workforce plans developed by the department of higher education. The program shall also include an internship at a local business related to the training curriculum that shall occur concurrently with training provided at the community college. Local businesses participating in the program shall not be responsible for any costs related to the program.

The office of coordination shall coordinate with the executive office of labor and workforce development to require one stop career centers and community college navigators to provide outreach and to identify and encourage eligible individuals to participate in the program. Community college navigators shall also oversee the matching and duration of each internship. The program shall be available to individuals that have been unemployed for longer than 1 year. Individuals participating in the program shall attend the community college at no cost to the individual and receive a monthly stipend from the community college for the duration of the program to assist with living and travel expenses. The department of higher education shall provide a report that includes: (i) a breakdown of the number of participants who began the program and the number of participants who completed the program; (ii) a list of businesses providing internships to participants; (iii) a description of the training received by participants through internships; (iv) the number of participants who received full-time employment within 6 months of completing the program; and (v) recommendations for expanding the program to additional community colleges. The report shall be filed with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development, the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 1, 2016.