Jan 14, 2010 -- Labor Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks


Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced $150 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The "Pathways Out of Poverty" grants -- as the group of funding awards is known -- will support programs that help disadvantaged populations find ways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency through employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

"These Pathways Out of Poverty grants will help workers in disadvantaged communities gain access to the good, safe and prosperous jobs of the 21st century green economy,"said Secretary Solis. "Green jobs present tremendous opportunities for people who have the core skills and competencies needed in such well-paying and rapidly growing industries as energy efficiency and renewable energy."

Through the 38 grants awards announced today, targeted populations will receive recruitment and referral services; basic skills, work-readiness and occupational skills training; supportive services to help overcome barriers to employment; and other services at times and locations that are easily accessible. Through these programs, participants will receive certifications and on-the-job training that will lead to employment.

In order to serve the specific populations targeted by these grants effectively, the Department of Labor encouraged applicants to focus project efforts in communities located within one or more contiguous Public Micro Data Areas (PUMAs) where poverty rates were 15 percent or higher. PUMAs are geographic areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. All applicants were required to have experience serving economically disadvantaged populations. Programs funded today will serve unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, and other disadvantaged individuals within areas of high poverty.

There are two types of award recipients for these grants: 1) national nonprofit entities with networks of local affiliates, coalition members or other established partners; and 2) local entities including nonprofit organizations, such as community and faith-based organizations, the public workforce investment system, the education and training community, labor organizations, and employer and industry-related organizations.

Today's grants are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative -- totaling $500 million -- to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency industries. For a full listing of the grants and project descriptions, visit http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/Pathways_Poverty_grants.pdf. To view a video by Secretary Solis, visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/pathways. The U.S. Department of Labor expects to release funding for one remaining green grant award category over the next several weeks.

To find out more about job training opportunities available through the Department of Labor, call the National Contact Center's toll-free helpline at: 866-4-USA-DOL (487-2365) or TTY 877-889-5627.

Editor's Note: Charts reflecting the grantees announced today are below. Audio files from Secretary Solis' conference calls with members of Congress are available at http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/pathways.

Grant Recipient

TYPE OF Grant

LOCATION: PUMAs Served

Award AMOUNT

PARTICIPANTS Served

1. Alternative Opportunities Inc.

Local

St. Louis, Mo. (PUMAs 01801, 01802, 01803)

$2,308,200

High school dropouts, unemployed individuals, ex-offenders and veterans

2. Better Family Life Inc. (BFL)

Local

St. Louis, Mo. (PUMAs 01703, 01701, 01801)

$3,305,493

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts and individuals with criminal records

3. Boley Centers Inc.

Local

St. Petersburg, Fla. (PUMA 02607)

$2,300,678

Disadvantaged and unemployed urban youth

4. Citrus Levy Marion Regional Workforce Development Board Inc.

Local

Ocala, Fla. (PUMA 01501)

$2,985,175

Unemployed workers, low-income adults, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal history

5. City of Minneapolis

Local

Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. (PUMAs 01501, 01502, 01301, 01302, 01303)

$4,000,000

Individuals living in poverty, veterans and unemployed young adults who do not have a high school diploma

6. CNY Works Inc.

Local

Syracuse, N.Y. (PUMA 00700)

$3,715,931

Low income individuals, ex-offenders, disadvantaged young-adults and displaced workers

7. Community College of Philadelphia

Local

Philadelphia, Pa. (PUMAs 04105, 04107)

$3,184,428

Unemployed workers, ex-offenders and veterans

8. Consortium for Worker Education

Local

Bronx, N.Y. (PUMAs 03708, 03710)

$4,000,000

Individuals with limited English proficiency, veterans and eligible spouses, persons with criminal records, disconnected youth and women

9. East Harlem Employment Services Inc. doing business as as STRIVE

National

New York, N.Y. (PUMAs 3804, 3803, 3710, 3705); Philadelphia, Pa. (PUMAs 04105, 04107, 04108); Hartford, Conn. (PUMA 00800); Benton, Mich. (PUMA 2400); Flint, Mich. (PUMA 2200); and Baltimore, Md. (PUMAs 00804, 00805)

$4,728,419

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal record

10. Eastern Maine Development Corp.

Local

Piscataquis County and Penobscot County, Maine (PUMA 00900)

$2,109,088

Disadvantaged adult job seekers, dislocated workers, returning offenders, public assistance recipients, high school dropouts and veterans

11. Florida State College at Jacksonville

Local

Duval County (PUMA 01102)

$2,229,642

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal record

12. Goodwill Industries International (GII)

National

Atlanta, Ga. (PUMA 01204); Austin, Texas (PUMA 05301); Charlotte, N.C. (PUMA 0902); Grand Rapids, Mich. (PUMAs 02100, 01100, 01000); Phoenix, Ariz. (PUMA 00117); Washington, D.C. (PUMA 00103)

$7,303,634

People with disabilities, chronically unemployed individuals, ex-offenders, older workers, homeless individuals and high school dropouts

13. Grand Rapids Community College

Local

Grand Rapids, Mich. (PUMA 01300)

$4,000,000

Unemployed workers, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal record

14. It's My Community Initiative

Local

Oklahoma City, Okla. (PUMA 01301)

$4,000,000

Underemployed individuals and ex-offenders

15. Jobs for the Future Inc. (JFF)

National

Chicago, Ill. (PUMAs 03514, 03515, 03516); Detroit, Mich. (PUMAs 03701, 03702, 03707); Los Angeles, Calif. (PUMAs 05421, 05422, 05424, 05500, 05701, 05702, 06115, 06119, 06123, 06124); Milwaukee, Wis. (PUMA 02003); Philadelphia, Pa. (PUMAs 04109, 04110)

$7,997,936

Unemployed and disadvantaged individuals

16. Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board Inc.

Local

Allentown, Pa. (PUMA 03600)

$4,000,000

At-risk youth, veterans and eligible spouses, and underemployed and unemployed individuals

17. Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)

Local

Los Angeles, Calif. communities of Watts (PUMA 06115), Willowbrook (PUMA 06119), and Florence-Graham (PUMA 06114)

$4,000,000

Dislocated, unemployed, underemployed, low-income workers and veterans

18. MDC Inc.

National

Charlotte, N.C. (PUMAs 00901, 00902, 00903, 00904); North Charleston, S.C. (PUMA 02010); Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg Counties, S.C. (PUMA 01800); Wise and Dickenson Counties, Va. (PUMA 02500); Scott County, Va. (PUMA 02600)

$3,780,816

Low-wage workers and unemployed individuals

19. Mi Casa Resource Center for Women Inc.

Local

Denver, Colo. (PUMA 00812)

$3,633,195

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, individuals with a criminal record, women and minorities

20. Mott Community College (MCC)

Local

Flint, Mich., and adjoining suburbs (PUMAs 02301, 02200)

$3,662,403

Low-income individuals

21. Moultrie Technical College

Local

Tift County, Ga. (PUMA 03900)

$3,753,579

Individuals on probation, high school dropouts, residents with disadvantaged backgrounds and displaced workers

22. National Association of Regional Councils (NARC)

National

Apache Junction, Ariz. (PUMA 00800); Bisbee, Ariz. (PUMA 00900); Midland, Texas (PUMAs 03100, 03200) ; Odessa, Texas (PUMA 03300); Dayton, Ohio (PUMA 04000)

$7,994,999

Limited English proficiency individuals, Native Americans, ex-offenders

23. National Council of La Raza

National

San Jose, Calif. (PUMAs 02709, 02714); San Diego, Calif. (PUMA 08105); Chicago, Ill. (PUMAs 03511, 03512)

$3,063,839

Low-income and unemployed individuals, and individuals with limited English proficiency

24. Northern Rural Training and Employment Consortium (NoRTEC)

Local

Butte, Calif. (PUMA 00600); Del Norte, Lassen, Modoc and Siskiyou, Calif. (PUMA 00100); Shasta County, Calif. (PUMA 00300); and Tehama and Trinity, Calif. (00500)

$4,000,000

High school dropouts, at-risk youth, welfare recipients, individuals with a criminal record, unemployed and dislocated workers, and veterans

25.Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Inc.

National

Asheville, N.C. (PUMA 00202); Broward County, Fla. (PUMAs 03605, 03607); and Phoenix, Ariz. (PUMA 00117)

$4,900,000

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal record

26. PathStone Corp.

National

Rochester, N.Y. (PUMA 00901); Scranton, Pa. (PUMA 00801); Juana Diaz, Santa Isabel and Villalba, Puerto Rico (PUMA 01700); and Arroyo, Coamo, Guayama and Salinas, Puerto Rico (PUMA 01600)

$8,000,000

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal record

27. Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/

Fayette Inc.

Local

Fayette County, Pa. (PUMA 02300)

$2,732,719

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts and individuals with a criminal record

28. Providence Economic Development Partnership

Local

Providence, R.I. (PUMA 00100)

$2,489,111

Ex-offenders and low-literacy individuals

29. Roca Inc.

Local

Chelsea and Revere, Mass. (PUMA 02900)

$2,398,778

High-risk youth

30. SER -- Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast Inc.

Local

Houston, Texas (PUMAs 04601, 04602, 04603, 04606, 04608, 04610, 04611, 04625)

$3,122,554

High school dropouts, ex-offenders, unemployed individuals and disadvantaged individuals

31. Southeast Community College Area

Local

Lincoln, Neb. (PUMA 00801)

$2,331,278

Unemployed individuals, veterans, high school dropouts, individuals with a criminal record, refugees and immigrants

32. Southwest Housing Solutions Corp. (SWHS)

Local

Southwest Detroit, Mich. (PUMAs 03701, 03706)

$4,000,000

Unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, individuals with a criminal record and veterans

33. West Hills Community College District

Local

Mendota, Firebaugh, San Joaquin, Huron, Coalinga, Lemoore, Avenal and the unincorporated communities of Tranquility, Riverdale, Biola and Five Points in Fresno and Kings Counties, Calif. (PUMAs 03600, 03401)

$3,000,000

Disadvantaged individuals

34. Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC)

Local

Woodbury County, Iowa (PUMA 01100)

$3,999,459

Dislocated workers, low-income adults and disconnected youth

35. White Earth Band of Chippewa

Local

Mahnomen, Clearwater and Becker counties, Minn. (PUMA 00200)

$3,086,817

High school dropouts, unemployed individuals and individuals with a criminal record

36. Workforce Development of Seattle-King County

Local

Southeast Seattle, Wash., (PUMAs 01804, 02005)

$3,639,530

High school dropouts, unemployed adults, veterans, previously incarcerated youth and adults, and other disadvantaged individuals -- with a specific focus on communities of color, individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities

37. The WorkPlace Inc.

Local

City of Bridgeport, Conn. (PUMA 02400)

$4,000,000

High school dropouts, individuals with a criminal record, unemployed individuals and people facing other significant disadvantages

38. Worksystems Inc.

Local

East Multnomah County, Ore. (PUMA 01302, 01301)

$4,000,000

Native Americans, African-Americans, Latinos, immigrants, veterans, individuals with a criminal record and homeless individuals

ETA News Release: [01/13/2010]

Contact Name: Mike Trupo or Lina Garcia

Phone Number: (202) 693-3416 or x4661

Release Number: 10-0039-NAT

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