Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Bitterman
lbitterman@glass.org

NGA SECURES CALIFORNIA FUNDING TO PROVIDE GLASS INDUSTRY TRAINING

WASHINGTON, DC, August 24, 2007—The National Glass Association announced today that it has received an Employment Training Panel (ETP) contract from the State of California to provide training programs in both the auto glass and flat/architectural glass sectors that will include a mix of classroom and laboratory work and online training through www.MyGlassClass.com. The courses can lead to prestigious NGA certification for auto glass installers and flat glass technicians, respectively, and the training will be conducted in California, with each instructor-led course accommodating between 10-20 students.

“Our member companies in California—and nationwide—consistently cite finding and keeping skilled workers as one of the most pressing issues facing their companies, so we are proud to play a key role in addressing such a critical issue,” said David Walker, the NGA’s vice president for Association Services. “The skilled worker challenge can have a profound impact on a company’s ability to thrive and compete, and national, state and local economies are affected as well. Our world-class training programs that have been developed by experts within the industry are a proven difference-maker in this area.”

The ETP program is performance-based, providing funds for trainees who successfully complete training and are retained in well-paying jobs for a specific period of time. Since its inception in 1983, the ETP program has provided over $1 billion to train more than 660,000 workers in over 60,000 California companies. The program is funded by the Employment Training Tax paid by California employers, and targets firms threatened by out-of-state and international competition.

“We look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial partnership with the state of California that helps companies find the workers they need and helps residents find rewarding and challenging careers in the glass industry,” Walker concluded. “There’s never been a better time to be a member of the NGA.”

For more information on the NGA ETP funding, contact Lisa Bitterman at 703/442-4890, ext. 166 or lbitterman@glass.org.

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About NGA
Founded in 1948, the National Glass Association is the largest trade association representing the entire flat glass and auto glass industries. Based outside Washington, DC, NGA offers certification, education and training, and MyGlassClass.com—a state-of-the-art, online training resource. NGA publishes the leading trade magazines—Glass Magazine®, Window & Door®, AutoGlass™, and e-newsletters, e-glass weekly™ and WDweekly™. In addition, NGA serves the industry and general public with its Web sites: www.glass.org, www.GlassBuildAmerica.com, www.GlassMagazine.net, www.AutoGlassmagazine.net, www.WindowandDoor.net, and www.myautoglass.org. NGA also hosts the industry’s premier annual trade events: GlassBuild America®: The Glass, Window & Door Expo and the National Auto Glass Conference.