ETA News Release: [October 20, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post or Chad Aleshire
Phone Number: 202-693-3984 or 202-693-2703
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Awards Rochester, N. Y., Group Nearly $240,000 To Train Older Workers
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a $239,268 grant to Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. (VOC), in Rochester, N.Y., to provide employment opportunities for unemployed low-income veterans over 55 years of age. Today's announcement is part of a $2 million effort under the Department's Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
"The Labor Department's program for seniors has thousands of success stories across the country, which shows the immeasurable value of America's older workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "These grants, totaling $2 million, will connect mature workers with the employment and training resources they need to successfully transition into new careers."
With the grant, VOC will institute its Elder Veterans Career Opportunities Project (EVCOP), which will draw upon the resources of VOC's collaborative partners, many of whom are veterans or have a record of hiring vets, to deliver an integrated menu of services to older vets.
The project will incorporate innovative approaches, including flex-time and flex-place, job sharing and mentor-assisted on-the-job training. Job experiences will be customized to the enrollee's needs, applying reasonable accommodations and worker-friendly "tools" to help older veterans adapt to the contemporary workplace without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated.
"The Department of Labor is committed to helping all Americans access the tools they need to stay competitive in our changing workforce," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "We want to build on our success and continue preparing senior workers with the skills employers need as our economy continues to change and grow."
For more than 30 years, SCSEP has served the training and job placement needs of older workers by working in partnership with national organizations and state and local agencies that provide services to senior constituencies.
For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.
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