Please note: As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.

News Release

U.S. Department of Labor Awards More Than $90 Million in Grants to Help Justice-Involved Individuals Enter the Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the awarding of $90,992,062 through two grant programs, Pathway Home and the Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP), focused on assisting justice-involved individuals in gaining meaningful employment. U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, today to make the announcement with Pathway Home grant awardee Volunteers of America of Massachusetts.

"President Trump and his Administration believe in providing a second chance to Americans who have served their time in the criminal justice system," said Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. "These grants reflect this commitment to helping all Americans find jobs and participate meaningfully in the economy. The assistance the grants provide to men and women transitioning back into society will be especially valuable as we overcome the economic challenges posed by coronavirus."

"These grants support proactive and comprehensive approaches to engage justice-involved individuals seeking a second chance and a path to rewarding and sustainable careers," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch. "Research shows early and frequent engagement prior to release from incarceration reduces the risk of recidivism, so these grants are vital to stopping the revolving door of prison from turning."

The Department announced the awarding of $64,395,062 in Pathway Home grants to 20 recipients serving 15 states to assist in the transition of justice-involved adults back to the workplace. Awarded under the Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program, Pathway Home grants offer valuable support to organizations that provide reentry services to improve employment outcomes for adults involved in the criminal justice system. Grant recipients will offer individuals a variety of services designed to help ease their transition back to society, including education and training, job preparation, case management and needs assessments, career exploration and planning, legal assistance, counseling, and assistance connecting to other important social services.

The list of Pathway Home grant awardees is provided below:

List of Pathway Home grant awardees

Applicant

City

State

Serving

Award

The Dannon Project

Birmingham

AL

City of Birmingham; Jefferson, Montgomery, St. Clair, Thomasville and Wetumpka counties

$4,000,000

GRID Alternatives

Fresno

CA

Fresno, Kings, Madera and Merced counties

$2,388,759

County of Ventura Human Services

Ventura

CA

Ventura County

$2,417,711

Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment

Denver

CO

Denver Metro and Pikes Peak

$3,998,578

Opportunities Industrialization Center of South Florida

Oakland Park

FL

Broward and Miami-Dade counties

$4,000,000

Tampa Bay Academy of Hope Inc.

Tampa

FL

Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties

$4,000,000

Workforce Inc.

Indianapolis

IN

Marion County

$4,000,000

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana

New Orleans

LA

Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Baton Rouge Parishes

$3,479,989

Volunteers of America Massachusetts Inc.

Jamaica Plain

MA

Essex County

$4,000,000

American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center

Minneapolis

MN

North and South Minneapolis

$3,220,570

Southeast Minnesota Private Industry Council (dba Workforce Development Inc.)

Rochester

MN

Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele and Wabasha counties

$1,594,300

Family Resource Center South Atlantic

Raleigh

NC

Franklin, Halifax and Vance counties

$2,572,242

Schenectady Community Action Program

Schenectady

NY

Schenectady County

$849,892

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Columbus

OH

Belmont, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Montgomery and Summit counties

$4,000,000

Ohio Area 7 Consortium of Chief Elected Officials

Springfield

OH

Highland, Lawrence, Miami, Montgomery and Sandusky counties

$4,000,000

The Mental Health Association of Oregon

Portland

OR

Portland metro area

$3,967,635

Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America

Philadelphia

PA

Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Norristown

$4,000,000

Knoxville Leadership Foundation

Knoxville

TN

Knox County

$2,770,428

South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance

Spring Hill

TN

Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties

$1,630,417

Midwest Urban Strategies

Milwaukee

WI

Wichita, KS; Kansas City, MO; and Pittsburgh, PA

$3,504,541

Total

 

 

 

$64,395,062

In addition, the Department announced the awarding of $26,597,000 in Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP) grants to help establish partnerships with community colleges and connect justice-involved young adults with apprenticeships and other opportunities in growing industries such as informational technology, healthcare and energy. By focusing on community colleges, these grants will support the development of educational programs that provide skills that meet the needs of area industries and employers. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 authorizes the REO program.

The list of awardees for the Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP) grants is provided below:

List of awardees for the Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP) grants

Applicant

City

State

Serving

Award

Latino Coalition for Community Leadership

Santa Barbara

CA

Bakersfield; Los Angeles; Orange County, CA; and Denver, CO

$4,298,500

Goodwill Industries International

Rockville

MD

North Georgia; Atlanta, GA;

Louisville, KY; Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, MI;

Pittsburgh, East Pittsburgh and McKeesport, PA

$4,500,000

FHI 360 (dba Family Health Int’l)

Durham

NC

Colorado Springs; Denver, CO; Baltimore, MD; Hartford, CT; Crossett, AR; and Los Angeles, CA

$4,298,500

National Urban League

New York

NY

Essex County, NJ; Hartford, CT; Fulton County, GA;

New Orleans, Baton Rouge, LA; and Oklahoma City, OK

$4,500,000

PathStone Corp.

Rochester

NY

Monroe County, Erie County, NY; Chester, Coatesville, West Chester Borough and

Reading, PA

$4,500,000

Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Inc.

Philadelphia

PA

Philadelphia, Harrisburg, PA;

Eastern Broward County, FL; and Greater Rocky Mount Area, NC

$4,500,000

Total

 

 

 

$26,597,000

ETA administers federal government job training and worker dislocation programs, federal grants to states for public employment service programs, and unemployment insurance benefits. State and local workforce development systems primarily provide these services.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
July 7, 2020
Release Number
20-1264-NAT
Media Contact: Emily Weeks
Phone Number
Share This