$600,000 to Native American employment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced approximately $67 million in grant funds to 256 organizations through the Workforce Investment Act Indian and Native American Program. These grants will support job training and placement services for adults and at-risk youth. They include a grant of $608,182 to the Rhode Island Indian Council.

“Funding awarded through this competition will support American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities in both the development of their local economies and the preparation of workers to meet the needs of promising regional industries,” said Secretary Solis. “The training and employment services made available through these grants will expand opportunities for adults and at-risk youth in these communities and will help them gain access to the kind of good jobs that offer opportunities for advancement.”

Of the $67 million, approximately $53 million is being awarded to 178 organizations through the department’s Employment and Training Administration’s Comprehensive Service Program for Adults. This program provides quality employment and training services specifically for Native Americans ages 14 and older who are unemployed, underemployed and low-income individuals.

An approximately $14 million grant will be shared among an additional 78 organizations through ETA’s Supplemental Services Program for Youth. The youth program will offer summer and year-round employment and training activities for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth between the ages of 14 and 21. This program provides an array of employment and training services including job placement assistance, work experience and occupational skills training, specifically targeting at-risk individuals facing substantial employment barriers. The targeted population includes high school dropouts and youth who are in need of basic skills training.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 authorizes programs to serve the employment and training needs of Indian and Native American adults and youth through competitive two-year grant awards. Final award amounts in each category were determined, in part, by census data.