The Department of Labor last week announced $137 million in grant funding to support the entry of young people and formerly incarcerated individuals into the workforce.
In one announcement, the agency said that $85 million in grants will support programs that provide skills training through work-based learning, employment services, educational support and mentorship to youth and young adults in communities affected by violence, crime and poverty.
Funded through the Growth Opportunities program, the grants “will help to address those structural barriers by supporting local organizations that provide jobs, training and supportive services that prepare and empower young people to succeed in the labor market and their communities,” the Labor Department said.
According to the department, “The funding — made available through the department’s Employment and Training Administration — supports the department’s Youth Employment Works strategy, which seeks to ensure there is ‘no wrong door’ for young people to access supportive services and workforce development opportunities.”
See grant eligibility requirements here.
In the other announcement, the DOL said that $52 million in grant funding under the Pathway Home program will benefit organizations that provide reentry services to incarcerated individuals before their release from state correctional facilities or county or local jails.
The idea behind the funding is to shorten the gap between release from prison or jail and enrollment in a workforce development program.
“The funding will help enhance reintegration efforts and reduce recidivism,” the DOL said in a press release.
Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Pathway Home grants connect prospective employers with participants looking to acquire training and industry-recognized credentials as they prepare to transition into the workforce.
The Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration will award grants for up to 20 projects that provide incarcerated individuals with legal assistance, counseling, job search strategies and other foundational skills prior to their release. The grants will range from $1 million to $4 million to each employer and also will support apprenticeships, occupational training and supportive services for participants once the individuals are released.
Information about grant eligibility requirements is available online.
