U.S. Department of Labor Awards Nearly $20 Million in Grants for President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded 30 grants totaling $19.8 million to faith- and community-based organizations to assist non-violent ex- offenders returning to their local communities. These grants were awarded under the President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative grant competition and are designed to serve urban centers and areas of greatest need.

"Communities benefit when non-violent ex-offenders become contributing members of society," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This $20 million in grants will fund projects in 20 states to provide job training, mentoring and other services to prepare returning ex-offenders for new lives as productive workers."

Introduced by President Bush in his 2004 State of the Union Address, the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative is designed to help strengthen urban communities and assist ex-prisoners re-entering the community through an employment-based program that incorporates housing, mentoring, job training and other services.

This competition for grants turned out to be the biggest and most competitive in recent years, with 549 applications submitted to the Department of Labor.

"Employment can be the most stabilizing factor in an ex- offender's transition back into the community. Many of the individuals who will receive services under these grants need skills training and assistance as they make this transition," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "These grants will support faith- and community-based organizations in providing the help ex-offenders need as they move to find employment and restart careers, as well as build safer communities."

The Prisoner Re-entry Initiative is a collaboration of the Departments of Labor, Justice, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services. The Department of Justice is holding a limited grant competition in the 20 states where the Labor Department grants were awarded to conduct pre-release services for program participants.

Please visit http://releases.usnewswire.com/redir.asp?ReleaseID=56392&Link=http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/reentryfactsheet.htm for more information on the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative. For additional information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit http://releases.usnewswire.com/redir.asp?ReleaseID=56392&Link=http://www.doleta.gov.

-- Note: A complete list of award winners follows:

Award Recipient: The Primavera Foundation, Inc.; City: Tucson; State: AZ; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Arizona Women's Education and Employment, Inc.; City and State: Phoenix; AZ ; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry; City and State: San Diego; CA; Amount: ;$665,935

Award Recipient: Allen Temple Housing & Economic Development Corporation; City and State: Oakland; CA; Amount: ;$660,000

Award Recipient: Mexican American Alcoholism Program, Inc.; City and State: Sacramento; CA; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Fresno Career Development Institute, Inc.; City and State: Fresno; CA; Amount: ;$660,000

Award Recipient: The Empowerment Program; City and State: Denver; CO; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Community Partners In Action, Inc.; City and State: Hartford; CT; Amount: $666,671

Award Recipient: OIC Of Broward County, Inc.; City and State: Ft Lauderdale; FL; Amount: $660,474

Award Recipient: The Directors Council; City and State: Des Moines; IA; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: The Safer Foundation; City and State: Chicago; IL; Amount: $663,746

Award Recipient: The Church United for Community Development; City and State: Baton Rouge; LA; Amount: $659,391

Award Recipient: Odyssey House Louisiana, Inc.; City and State: New Orleans; LA; Amount: $684,250

Award Recipient: Span, Inc.; City and State: Boston; MA; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Episcopal Community Services of Maryland; City and State: Baltimore; MD; Amount: $657,935

Award Recipient: Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency; City and State: Pontiac; MI; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: St. Patrick Center; City and State: St. Louis; MO; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Connections to Success; City and State: Kansas City; MO; Amount: $659,432

Award Recipient: Career Opportunity Development, Inc.; City and State: Egg Harbor City (serving Atlantic County);NJ ; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: The Doe Fund, Inc.; City and State: Brooklyn; NY; Amount: $659,000

Award Recipient: Goodwill Industries of Greater NY & Northern NJ, Inc.; City and State: Astoria (Serving Newark, NJ); NY based, serving NJ; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Urban Youth Alliance International, Inc.; City and State: Bronx; NY; Amount: $660,121

Award Recipient: Talbert House; City and State: Cincinnati; OH; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: SE Works, Inc.; City and State: Portland;OR Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Connection Training Services; City and State: Philadelphia; PA; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: WABC Central City Comprehensive Community Center; City and State: Houston; TX; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Goodwill Industries of San Antonio; City and State: San Antonio; TX; Amount: $663,045

Award Recipient: Urban League of Greater Dallas & North Central Texas; City and State: Dallas; TX ; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: People of Color Against AIDS Network; City and State: Seattle; WA; Amount: $660,000

Award Recipient: Word of Hope Ministries, Inc; City and State: Milwaukee;WI; Amount: $660,000

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