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ODEP News Release: [10/01/2003]
Contact Name:
Michael Volpe
Phone Number: (202) 693-7909
Secretary of Labor Announces $15.3 Million in
Grants Supporting the Employment of People with Disabilities
Grants Promote Goals Of President's New Freedom
Initiative
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today
kicked off National Disability Employment Awareness Month by announcing the
awarding of approximately $15.3 million in federal grants that will support
President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative's goal of integrating
Americans with disabilities into the workforce.
The department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
awarded forty-two (42) grants, each ranging from $50,000 to $750,000, and
totaling about $15.3 million.
"This $15.3 million in grants to 42 organizations will help to
promote the President's goal of increasing employment of Americans with
disabilities into the 21st century workforce," said Secretary Chao. "These
grants will support a variety of initiatives, including assistance to homeless
workers who are disabled so they get the training and housing they need, aid to
youth who are disabled so they are more likely to find and hold jobs when they
get older, and specialized outreach to workers who are disabled at local Career
One Stop Centers."
Secretary Chao added, "It is fitting that these grants are being
announced during October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This
is not only a time to recognize and celebrate the many employment contributions
of Americans who are disabled, but also to focus attention on the need to
increase employment opportunities of people with disabilities."
ODEP's Assistant Secretary of Labor, Roy Grizzard, whose agency
administers the grants, stated, "These initiatives will go a long way towards
supporting individuals with disabilities as they seek and maintain employment.
Today's announcement augments ODEP's ongoing commitment to continuing grant and
contracting initiatives bringing its investment in employment policy research
and evaluation to approximately $61.5 million since 2001."
Information on these and other Department of Labor initiatives
are located at www.dol.gov. A list of grant
recipients is attached.
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