ETA News Release: [Oct. 22, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post or Chad Aleshire
Phone Number: 202-693-3984 or 202-693-2703
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Awards Morgantown, W. Va.,
Group $250,000 To Train Older Workers
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a $250,000 grant to the Human Resources Development Foundation, Inc., in Morgantown, W. Va., to provide low-income older workers with second-career training. Today's announcement is part of a $2 million effort under the Department's Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
"The Labor Department's program for seniors has thousands of success stories across the country, which shows the immeasurable value of America's older workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "These grants, totaling $2 million, will connect mature workers with the employment and training resources they need to successfully transition into new careers."
The $250,000 award will enable the Senior Work Plus Program to provide older workers training and placement opportunities in the private, for-profit sector, using pre-existing and newly-acquired skills. Characterized by decades of poverty, out-migration of youth, low rates of literacy and low employment rates, the area of West Virginia served by the grantee needs qualified workers in health care and retail services, jobs for which 100 participating seniors will be trained. After training, the grantee will assist in finding on-the-job training opportunities.
"The Department of Labor is committed to helping all Americans access the tools they need to stay competitive in our changing workforce," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "We want to build on our success and continue preparing senior workers with the skills employers need as our economy continues to change and grow."
For more than 30 years, SCSEP has served the training and job placement needs of older workers by working in partnership with national organizations and state and local agencies that provide services to senior constituencies.
For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.
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