Government News
Veterans to Get $27 Million for Job Training
WASHINGTON - Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today
announced 94 grants, totaling nearly $27 million, to provide approximately 17,000
veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants
are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Workforce Investment
Program (VWIP) and Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).
"These $27 million in grants will help more than 16,000 veterans access the resources
they need to find good jobs and build a bright future for themselves and their families,"
said Secretary Chao.
Funds are being awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment
boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based
and community organizations. These agencies are familiar with the areas and populations
to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs.
More than $6.7 million will support 12 VWIP grants to help veterans from targeted
groups overcome employment barriers and ease their transition into unsubsidized
jobs. Through this program, veterans receive skills assessments, individual job
counseling, labor market information, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrading
and retraining, placement assistance and crucial follow-up services. The Labor Department's
Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) expects these grants to provide
training for more than 3,800 veterans, who may also be eligible for services through
other Workforce Investment Act programs for economically disadvantaged or dislocated
workers.
To assist homeless veterans with reintegration into America's workforce, the Labor
Department is awarding more than $20 million in 82 HVRP grants. These funds are
being distributed nationwide through 35 newly competed grants and 47 current grants
receiving second- and third-year funding. Homeless veterans may receive occupational,
classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance,
including follow-up services. VETS expects these funds to help more than 12,600
veterans. HVRP is recognized as an extraordinarily efficient and effective program
and is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans
who are homeless.
The HVRP grants include two cooperative agreements that will assist in developing
the HVRP National Technical Assistance Center. The center will provide technical
assistance to current grantees, potential applicants and the public; gather grantee
best practices, conduct employment-related research on homeless veterans; conduct
regional grantee training sessions and self-employment boot camps; and perform outreach
to the employer community to increase job opportunities for veterans.
Grantees under both programs network and coordinate their efforts with various local,
state and federal social service providers. More information on the Department of
Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs for veterans can be found at www.dol.gov/vets.
View the list of
VWIP grants.
View the list of
HVRP grants.
To read more, visit
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/vets20070904.htm
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