President says 10,000 new engineers should be trained annually

By: JIM KUHNHENN | Associated Press
Published: June 13, 2011

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DURHAM, N.C. — President Barack Obama is announcing details of a program to train 10,000 new American engineers every year.

Seeking ways to brighten a bleak employment picture, Obama traveled to Durham, N.C., today to hear job-creation ideas from the corporate leaders on his jobs council. One idea he emerged to announce was the engineering training program.

Obama says American companies, like computer chip maker Intel Corp., need the brightest American workers if they want to continue as leaders in technology and innovation.

Under the program, Obama says private companies will join the government to promote education in science, technology, engineering and math. They'll offer incentives to students to finish their degrees and help universities pay for their engineering programs.

He also says companies will double the number of summer internships they offer.

(This has been a breaking news update. Read more in tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.)