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OPA News Release: [11/09/2005]
Contact Name: Stephanie Cathcart
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release Number: 05-2137-CHI

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Hosts Opportunity Conference for Chicago-area Minority Entrepreneurs

2005 Conference to Build on Record of Service to Growing Ethnic Communities

CHIGAGO—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today hosted the 2005 Opportunity Conference for Asian Pacific, Hispanic and African Americans in Chicago. The full-day conference was designed to inform small business owners, non-profit, and faith-based organizations and community leaders about the many opportunities available to these growing segments of the 21st century workforce.

Chao's keynote address highlighted the Department of Labor's outreach efforts to inform previously underserved communities about local, state and federal grant, contracting and partnership opportunities. 

"For traditionally under-served communities, we hope this conference provides the networking, skills enhancement and training opportunities that will help individuals and organizations grow and succeed," said Chao.

Helping Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanic Americans and African Americans reach their full potential continues to be among the Secretary's top priorities.  The Department of Labor has launched a number of initiatives to assist these growing communities.  These include enhancing the opportunity for small and minority-owned businesses to contract with the department; eliminating the unfair bureaucratic barriers that prevent faith-based and community organizations from bidding on grants and contracting opportunities; and giving immigrant communities access to Department of Labor worker protection materials by publishing them in a variety of languages including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.  In addition, the department has reached out to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help the African American community learn about new opportunities in high-growth sectors.

“I hope the organizations attending this meeting today will help the department spread the good news to their members about the tremendous array of resources available to help them seek new opportunities,” said Chao.  

For more information about Labor Department programs and activities in the Asian Pacific American, Hispanic American or African American communities, please visit www.dol.gov.  For additional details about the 2005 Opportunity Conference, visit www.opportunityconference.gov.

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