contact:

Marcia Heath
Hawthorne Associates
Phone: 978-745-4878
941-302-3910 (cell)
Fax: 978-745-2553
marcia@hawthorneassociates.com

Editorial Resources

• Press Kit (PDF document, 50 KB)
• Press Release: 20-Jun-02
• Press Release: 24-Jun-02

San Diego Firm Begins Taking Applications For Million-Dollar Training Grant

Nan McKay and Associates Supports Low-Income Families Through Its "Nan McKay Learning for Life Initiative"

San Diego, CA - June 24, 2002 - In a dramatic announcement, Nan McKay, president and founder of Nan McKay and Associates, has stepped into a breach caused by rapidly diminishing governmental support to provide a major grant for skills training to families living in subsidized housing and housing staff. Calling the program the "Nan McKay Learning for Life Initiative," McKay's company started taking applications today for its million-dollar grant for online courses and membership in its proprietary NMA University, both designed to help people get better jobs and gain greater self-sufficiency.

This new initiative comes at time when families in subsidized housing are facing both a lifetime time limit on welfare support and, at the same time, seeing the Federal government and states slash assistance for welfare-to-work funding. McKay, whose company has provided comprehensive training and consulting services to housing professionals for 22 years, understands the critical importance of self-reliance and decided that the time for the private sector to get involved is now.

"Though people living in subsidized housing are quite willing to work, often they can only get entry-level jobs," McKay said. "As a result, they continue to depend upon the government for rental assistance, medical care, and food stamps. Our program will provide families with what we're calling a 'friendly bridge' to success, so they can learn the kinds of critical skills they need to get better jobs at a time when they need them the most."

Nan McKay and Associates, through its newly created NMA Online University, will select 1250 families and staff administrators in subsidized housing for the program. Recipients in both groups will receive a grant for $800 worth of online courses and university membership from the company's new "NMA University."

Initial response to the program has been enthusiastic. "Providing someone with the opportunity to learn is one of the greatest gifts we can give," said Congressman Duncan Hunter, representing California's 52nd District. "Through their education and training grants, Nan McKay and Associates are providing those in subsidized housing with an excellent opportunity while, at the same time, making an investment in San Diego that will have benefits for years to come. I applaud Nan McKay for her generosity and thank her for her continuing commitment to making our community better."

The first component of the Nan McKay Learning for Life Initiative, designed for people who receive subsidized housing benefits, provides a wide range of courses that will be delivered over the Internet. These skills-based classes cover topics such as desktop computer skills, customer service techniques, courses in basic math and grammar, money management, motivation, and negotiation.

NMA University also will create courses designed for job seekers. "We are putting together classes on Can Work, Work for You?, Getting Ready to Work, What Happens at Work, Finding a Job, Keeping a Job, and Getting a Better Job," McKay indicated. "We're committed to providing very practical kinds of tools and self-help courses on ways to overcome the obstacles that low-income people face constantly."

Delivering these courses over the Internet provides many advantages for people who often find themselves working multiple, minimum wage jobs just to stay afloat. They can take courses at their own pace and on their own schedule. One criterion for grant selection is that the housing organization provides a computer which meets the specifications for the online courses.

The second component of the program provides courses to housing authority administrators. These are designed to help staff members more efficiently deliver services and assistance to residents. Membership in the NMA University will provide these individuals access to regulatory training, to a library with updates on changes mandated by HUD and other critical information. In addition, NMA University provides housing authority supervisors a performance support module to assess their employee skills and monitor their training.

McKay will begin taking applications for the first of these grants June 24, 2002. People interested in finding out more about the Nan McKay Learning for Life Initiative can call Nan McKay and Associates at (800) 783-3100 x146 or going to the company's website at www.nanmckay.com.

About Nan McKay and Associates

Founded in 1980, Nan McKay and Associates, Inc. (NMA) is a leading company in the United States that provides technical expertise in key service areas for specialized housing programs. Over 100,000 housing authority employees nationwide have turned to NMA for training and technical operations assistance.

A highly professional staff of 50 employees and associates have proven expertise in all areas of housing management, including subsidized housing. These professionals evaluate and rapidly translate complicated federal regulations into services that help clients maintain compliance with regulations and deliver effective housing services.

NMA also provides management consulting, training, and over 400 quality products to companies, as well as agencies, and offers over 300 training programs annually with a focus on housing management.

NMA services span:

• Training, with certification examinations
• Consulting
• Books and program tools including videos, multimedia, online training
• University membership

A privately held corporation located in San Diego, California, NMA encourages other companies and associations in the private sector to collaborate in this endeavor.