|
 Printer-Friendly Version
ETA News Release: [07/23/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette
Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $9.2
Million Grant to National Urban League to Assist At-Risk Youth
DETROIT, Mich.—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today
announced a $9.2 million grant to the National Urban League to assist
inner-city African American youth.
“This $9.2 million grant to the National Urban League will help
at-risk, out-of-school youth access training so they can find good-paying
jobs,” Secretary Chao said. “The programs funded by this grant will
provide tutoring, literacy training, work experience, adult mentoring,
employment opportunities and career-planning services that can help prepare
these young people for a bright future.”
Through the grant, the National Urban League will bring the Youth Career
Preparation Program to 15 urban sites across the country. At the sites, 1,200
youth between the ages of 16 and 24 will be involved in internships and
on-the-job training to help them prepare for full-time jobs in the private
sector.
The pilot demonstration will bring together the federal workforce
investment system and its local One-Stop Career Centers, state and local
government, business, education and faith-based and community-based
organizations to ensure the success and continuation of the project.
Secretary Chao also noted the improving job prospects in Michigan. The
state’s June unemployment rate dropped to 6.5 percent which continues a
downward trend. The new number also represents a significant improvement over
the state unemployment rate of 7.3 percent a year ago.
“These positive employment numbers are proof that the
President’s pro-growth policies are working and workers are finding good
jobs in Michigan and across the country,” Secretary Chao said. “The
Department is announcing millions of dollars in grants that will help workers,
including African American youth, access the training and employment services
necessary to help them take advantage of these job opportunities.”
Today’s grant is one of several grants, totaling $54.6 million, the
Department of Labor is awarding under the Youth Offender Demonstration
Project. The grants are being presented to faith-based and community
organizations that can best reach youth who are currently involved with the
court system or at risk of involvement. The goal of the grants is to connect
this segment of the community with job training programs and employment
opportunities.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
