(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 03, 2002 ) U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on May 3rd announced three new Department of Labor grants specifically designed to link faith-based and grassroots community organizations to the nation's One-Stop Career System. The grants will be administered and funded through the department's Employment and Training Administration and the new Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

"We are opening the Department of Labor's doors, and its funds, to those faith-based and community groups who are transforming America one life and one heart at a time. These organizations can serve as a critical component of our workforce system and can provide an effective bridge to the employment and training system," said Chao at an afternoon news conference. "We are proud that the department is making the president's Faith-Based and Community Initiative a reality. This is the first new grant program in the entire federal government targeted specifically at the faith-based and community groups."

The grants are a central component of President George W. Bush's effort to realign federal policy and programs to ensure accessibility for all qualified organizations to compete for government funds. Secretary Chao announced the following three grant solicitations:

25 grants of $20,000 to $25,000 to faith-based and community groups that provide employment, training and other services. Simplified application and reporting requirements will make sure these dollars are spent effectively and efficiently.
$5 million in grants for regional intermediaries to develop networks of faith-based and community organizations to become partners with the existing One-Stop Career System.
$10 million in grants to encourage state workforce programs to link faith-based and community groups to the One-Stop employment centers. The grants will encourage states to develop special plans to reach out and include grassroots, faith-based and community organizations to fill the gaps in their delivery systems. The Department of Labor is one of five federal cabinet agencies with a Faith-Based and Community Initiative Center.
THE FOLLOWING :30 PSA IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR FREE AND UNRESTRICTED USE.
(Male Voice over) US Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.
If you're a community or faith-based organization helping people with job training, placement or skills development - we are giving out grants of up to $25,000. If you need funding for training programs, and to find out if you're eligible, call 1-877-US2-JOBS. Hurry! - applications are due by May 17th! That's 1-877-US.2 JOBS.

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Produced for the Department of Labor

CONTACT:
Ashley Barnes 202-693-4670

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