WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced $298,500 in grants to three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Gulf Coast region to train individuals in the hardest-hit hurricane areas in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Dillard University in New Orleans, La., Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., and Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., have established education and job training assistance programs to help displaced workers and unemployed individuals gain the skills necessary for re-employment.

"Gulf Coast universities and community colleges are uniquely situated to provide the skills training and education that many displaced workers need to find new jobs," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "These grants will help hurricane evacuees become qualified for work in construction, manufacturing, environmental and disaster remediation."

Each school will receive $99,500. With the grants, the HBCUs will work with their local One-Stop Career Centers, faith and community-based organizations, and employers. Transitions to local construction or manufacturing trades, computer literacy, and environmental and disaster remediation programs will be among the services provided to displaced hurricane evacuees.

Dillard University will offer environmental and disaster remediation skills among its training programs. Jackson State University will focus on instruction, computer literacy, and job-readiness skills leading to training opportunities in construction. Shelton State Community College will concentrate its efforts on providing technical skills in manufacturing, particularly for the local automotive industry.

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