WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor, members of the business community and foundation partners will launch the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, an initiative designed to support the efforts of local workforce development, on September 6 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco will offer remarks at this event.
“Helping workers gain the skills needed to get better paying careers not only improves their lives and those of their families, but also helps meet the skilled workforce demands of businesses nationwide,” said DeRocco. “By combining the efforts and resources of governmental, business, and foundation partners, we will be able to reach out to a greater number of workers than if any one group pursued such an endeavor alone.”
Led by the Annie E. Casey, Ford and Hitachi Foundations and the Department of Labor, the fund will seek commitments from foundations, businesses and the public sector to reach a $50 million goal over five years. The goal of the program is twofold: to create new career opportunities for workers embarking on or transitioning to new careers and to meet the skilled labor demands of employers.
It is expected that the fund will provide assistance to as many as 30 organizations. During its first five years, the fund also will leverage more than $200 million in local funding and assist in placing at least 50,000 individuals in new careers. Initial grants will be awarded to four organizations: The Partnership for New Communities, Chicago, Ill.; San Diego Workforce Funders Collaborative; Los Angeles Workforce Funders Collaborative; and the Greater Washington (D.C.) Workforce Development Collaborative.
WHO: Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover
DeRocco U.S. Department of Labor
