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VETS News Release: [6/22/2006]
Contact Name: Mike Biddle or Dirk Fillpot
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or x5051
Release Number: 06-1057-NAT

17,000 Veterans to Benefit from $26 Million in Job Training Grants

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced 91 grants, totaling nearly $26 million, to provide approximately 17,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants were awarded under the Department of Labor's Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) and Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).

"America's veterans put their lives on the line so that we may all live in freedom," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "These $26 million in grants are to help nearly 17,000 veterans build careers and a bright future for themselves and their families."

Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. These agencies have a familiarity with the area and population to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer an effective program.

More than $6.8 million will be used to support 12 VWIP grants to help veterans from targeted groups overcome employment barriers and ease their transition into unsubsidized jobs. Through this program, veterans receive skills assessments, individual job counseling, labor market information, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrading and retraining, placement assistance and crucial follow-up services. The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) expects the VWIP grants to provide training for more than 3,800 veterans. Veterans receiving assistance under these grants may also be eligible for services through other Workforce Investment Act programs for economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers.

To assist our nation's homeless veterans, the Department of Labor is awarding more than $19 million in 79 HVRP grants. These funds are being distributed nationwide through 42 newly competed HVRP grants and 37 current HVRP grants receiving second- and third-year funding. HVRP grants help homeless veterans, often with barriers to employment, to reintegrate into America's workforce. Homeless veterans may receive occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search help and job placement assistance, including follow-up services. VETS expects these funds to help nearly 13,000 homeless veterans.

Grantees under both programs network and coordinate their efforts with various other local, state and federal social service providers. HVRP is recognized as an extraordinarily efficient and effective program and is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless.

More information on the Department of Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs can be found at www.dol.gov.

List of grantees.

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