United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) announces the award of a $3.4 million Welfare-to-Work grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. The award will fund education and training for welfare recipients in Maui County to enable their transition to employment and self-sufficiency, focusing on those with limited English proficiency.

"The Welfare-to-Work program is working to lift those welfare recipients facing the greatest barriers to finding and remaining in employment out of dependency and into self-sufficiency," Akaka noted. "This competitive grant award will allow Maui Economic Opportunity to use Welfare-to-Work resources to increase literacy skills and earnings potential for those truly in need in Maui County.

"Under this grant, MEO will create jobs on Molokai at ocean fish ponds and agricultural parks, and in the fields of landscaping, child care, and housekeeping. Participants on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai will benefit from an innovative approach to training and support to help them move from welfare to work. I commend MEO and its partners for the tremendous work that they do to make a difference in the lives of many in Maui County.

"This grant and the 63 other Welfare-to-Work awards announced today underscore the importance of community-based efforts to help the hardest to employ welfare recipients get the skills and experience necessary to find and keep a job. I have introduced legislation to extend this valuable program. Without my bill, the Welfare-to-Work Amendments of 1999, further competitive grant rounds will not be possible. I am continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress to extend and improve the Welfare-to-Work program. This extra investment is needed if we want to finish the job of reforming the welfare system."