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ETA News Release: [03/22/2006]
Contact Name: David James or Mike Volpe
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or x3984
Release Number: 06-0501-NAT

Department of Labor Announces Competition for $4 Million in Funding for Grassroots Organizations

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) today announced a $4 million grant competition for faith-based and community organizations to help hard-to-serve populations prepare for and succeed in employment opportunities.

"Faith-based and community organizations provide a vital complement to the employment and training resources available through local One-Stop Career Centers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "Organizations that successfully compete for these funds will provide the extra help that some individuals need to prepare for and ultimately succeed in the workplace."

Services funded by the grants will focus on individuals who face significant hurdles to employment, including welfare recipients, high school dropouts and ex-offenders. Grantees will provide personalized care and supportive services, such as mentoring or life skills coaching, to enable individuals to fully utilize the employment services offered at local One-Stop Career Centers.

"Government can always do better for people in need when we enlist every willing partner," said Director of the Labor Department's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Jedd Medefind. "The personal involvement and caring touch of faith-based and community organizations can often make the critical difference between sliding back into old habits or moving forward to new beginnings."

These grants will become part of the Department of Labor's ongoing effort to partner its existing programs with effective faith-based and community organizations to better serve the needy. ETA expects to award between 60 and 70 grants through this $4 million competition, amounting to four times the funding given in 2005.

A competitive solicitation for grant applications can be accessed online through www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm or www.grants.gov. The competition for grants will close May 2, 2006. "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding this competitions will be posted at www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/documents/misc/fbo-cbo.cfm by March 29, 2006, and will be updated periodically.

For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.