Chao Awards First Federal Grants to Faith-Based, Grassroots Orgs.; New Approach Helps Displaced Workers Find Good Jobs

7/1/2002

From: Elissa Pruett of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, 202-693-4676

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the awarding of the first three sets of Department of Labor grants specifically designed to link faith-based and grassroots community organizations to the nation's One-Stop Career System. $17.5 million has been awarded to 12 states and 29 organizations around the country. The grants are the first group to be awarded by any federal department.

"Faith-based and community organizations can be powerful catalysts in transforming people's lives. They should not be discriminated against when applying for government grants," Chao said. "The Department of Labor is proud to award $17.5 million to faith-based and community organizations to support the President's Faith-based and Community Initiative. These resources will help these organizations to carry out their mission of bringing hope and opportunity to individuals and improve our communities."

The grants are a central component of President George W. Bush's effort to ensure federal policy and programs are accessible for all qualified organizations to compete for government funds.

Secretary Chao announced the following three sets of awards:

-- 12 states will receive a total of $12 million for unique, innovative programs to create partnerships with faith-based and community groups. -- 9 non-profit intermediary organizations, which are groups that have demonstrated an ability to work with and assist smaller faith-based and community organizations, will receive a total of $5 million. -- 20 grants of approximately $25,000 each are awarded directly to small organizations to link their programs to local One-Stop office.

"The grants the Department of Labor announces today mark an important step in furthering the partnership between faith-based and community groups and the federal government in delivering social services to those in need," said Jim Towey, director of the White House Office on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. "This innovative program will help small, grassroots groups develop the capacity they need to build stronger and better workforces in the communities they serve."

The Department of Labor is one of five federal cabinet agencies with a Faith-Based and Community Initiative Center.

Faith Based Initiative Department of Labor Awardees:

States, Grant Award Arizona, $522,966 Colorado, $1,300,000 Connecticut, $1,111,024 District of Columbia, $474,678 Florida, $1,046,316 Indiana, $1,000,000 Massachusetts, $1,317,939 North Dakota, $496,408 Ohio, $900,000 Pennsylvania, $918,000 Virginia, $1,286,816 Wisconsin, $1,500,000

Intermediaries: Cobb Community Collaborative (Marietta, Ga.), $655,000 Concurrent Technologies Corporation (Johnstown, Pa.), $600,000 Hope Network, West Michigan (Grand Rapids, Mich.), $655,000 Richmond County Community Support Center (Rockingham, N.C.), $500,000 SEEDCO (New York, N.Y.), $656,124 SER-Jobs for Progress National (Irving, Texas), $543,569 South Coast Business Employment Corporation (Coos Bay, Ore.), $265,664 United Way of Brevard County, Inc. (Cocoa, Fla.), $500,000 University of Mass., Boston (Boston, Mass.), $624,643

Small Organizations: Kanawha Institute for Social Research (Dunbar, W.V.), $24,750 St. Paul's Baptist Church (Utica, N.Y.), $25,000 Jubilee Jobs, Inc. (Grand Rapids, Mich.), $24,955 Dominican American National Foundation (Miami, Fla.), $24,860 East African Community of Orange County (Anaheim, Calif.), $25,000 Center for Independence (Grand Junction, Colo.), $25,000 Bridge to Hope Ministries (Redmond, Ore.), $25,000 Camp Verde Adult Reading Program (Camp Verde, Ariz.), $24,949 Community and Family Resources (Fort Dodge, Iowa), $25,000 Christian Workplace Mentoring Ministry (Springfield, Ohio), $25,000 New Visions Economic Development Corp. (Vernon, Texas), $25,000 Greater St. Matthew Gospel Lighthouse (Wadesboro, N.C.), $25,000 Greater Holyoke Community Development Corp (Holyoke, Mass.), $25,000 Bethesda Community Outreach (Kingstree, S.C.), $25,000 University United Methodist Church (Las Vegas, Nev.), $20,075 Love, Inc. (Wentzville, Mo.), $25,000 Idlewild Christian Endeavors (Spring Grove, Va.), $23,370 Joy Corporation of Baton Rouge (Zachary, La.), $24,601 National Indian Monument and Institute (Tulsa, Okla.), $20,000 Mason County Literacy (Shelton, Wash.), $25,000

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