Angeline Leishman
ICF has received a $9 million contract from the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Labor Department to implement a workforce development program over the next two years in support of recovery efforts in the hurricane-stricken U.S. territory.
The company said Monday it will provide strategic planning, stakeholder and performance management, workforce development training and other services as project manager for the Skills for Today initiative.
The management consulting company will train local workers in hospitality, health care, information technology and other high-demand sectors to help the islands’ economy recovery following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Mark Lee, executive vice president and public sector lead at ICF, said the company’s efforts are aimed at equipping residents with “lifelong skills and recognized credentials” and enabling them to contribute to Virgin Islands’ disaster recovery efforts and economic growth initiatives.
“Building on our local partnerships with workforce, education and economic development agencies, our goal is that Skills for Today will create sustainable solutions that build resiliency,” the EVP noted.
The company’s work will be spearheaded by Adele Soto, a native Virgin Islander and an ICF workforce expert.
Skills for Today, a program funded by Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, will extend ICF’s ongoing Virgin Islands workforce-related efforts that first started in 2018.
