News Release

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OPA News Release: [07/24/2002]
Contact Name: Dina Dorich
Phone Number: (202) 693-7859

Labor Dept. Announces $6 Million Available for Grants to Integrate People with Disabilities into the Workforce

WASHINGTON – The U. S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $6 million in funding under the Working for Freedom, Opportunity and Real Choice through Community Employment (WorkFORCE) Grant Initiative. The WorkFORCE Grant Initiative includes two components: (1) WorkFORCE Coordinating Grants, and (2) WorkFORCE Action Grants.

Under the WorkFORCE Coordinating Grants Program, the Department of Labor will award up to $4 million, with the average grant ranging between $100,000 - $150,000. These funds will assist in coordinating, strategizing and developing competitive, customized community employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities so that they may live, work, and fully participate in their communities. Eligible applicants for these grants include state agencies; nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations; consortia of public and private entities; and Indian and Native American Tribal entities, or consortia of Tribes.

Under the WorkFORCE Action Grant Program, the Department will award $400,000 to $750,000 to non-profit organizations or consortia of non-profit organizations to expand the delivery and implementation of competitive, customized community employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

These grants will support the President’s New Freedom Initiative (NFI), which is designed to increase the number of people with disabilities who enter, reenter and remain in the workforce. The NFI is dedicated to increasing investment in and access to assistive technologies, a quality education, and increasing the integration of Americans with disabilities into the workforce and community life. The grants will be administered by the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Complete information about each grant solicitation, including the application process, application form and deadlines, can be found in the July 22 notices of the Federal Register. Information is also available on the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) website (www.dol.gov/odep).

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