News Release
U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public
Affairs 200 Constitution Avenue Washington, D.C. 20210 USDL
[02-566]
For Immediate Release Date: October 1,
2002 Contact: Angela Adams www.dol.gov/wb/welcome.html
Department Of Labor Grants To Promote Women In
Apprenticeship And Nontraditional Occupations
Washington -- Women entering nontraditional occupations will
benefit from $1,000,000 in grants from the U. S. Department of Labor. The
grants will go to organizations that will help employers and unions establish
apprenticeship programs, recruit women and help overcome barriers to women in
nontraditional jobs.
"Apprenticeship training is a great opportunity for women to gain
valuable skills that can advance their careers with better paying jobs," said
Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "By expanding the skills of America's working women,
we are addressing the needs of our workforce and assisting women in the
development of rewarding careers. When women win, families win."
Under the "Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations"
(WANTO) initiative, 11 community-based organizations have been awarded grants
to provide on-site technical assistance to employers and unions that develop
strategies to increase the employment of women in apprenticeship and
nontraditional occupations.
"Today's women are moving into positions of influence and leadership
faster than ever. It's happening on factory floors and on Wall Street - even in
government," says Women's Bureau Director Shinae Chun. "This grant program will
assist women to gain the skills they need to find and hold good jobs,
particularly in fields many women have not previously explored. From Maine to
California, women will have more opportunities as a result of these grants."
The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grantees are:
Oregon Tradeswoman, Inc., Portland, Ore.; Nontraditional Employment for Women,
New York, N.Y.; Women in the Building Trades, Dorchester, Mass.; Maui Economic
Development Board, Inc., Kihei, Hawaii, Tradeswomen, Inc., Oakland, Calif.;
Chicago Women in Trades, Chicago, Ill.; Workforce Connections, Inc., La Crosse,
Wis.; Century Housing Corporation, Culver City, Calif.; Women Unlimited,
Augusta, Maine; Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, Denver, Colo.; , and Hard
Hatted Women, Cleveland, Ohio.
The Women's Bureau administers the grants with the Labor Department's
Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services. Additional
information regarding nontraditional occupations in the trades for women can be
found in the current Women's Bureau e-News located at http://www.dol.gov/wb/nontra.htm.
The WANTO grant program is executed under the Women in Apprenticeship
and Nontraditional Occupations Act of 1992.
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