U.S. Department of Labor awards $10 million to train older workers for jobs in growing...

U.S. Department of Labor awards $10 million to train older workers for jobs in
growing industries

Department's partnership with Atlantic Philanthropies will bring additional
$3.6 million

WASHINGTON, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor
today awarded $10 million in funding to organizations that connect older
Americans to career opportunities. The Aging Worker Initiative: Strategies
for Regional Talent Development is designed to train workers age 55 and older
for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries, and increase the public
workforce system's capacity to effectively serve an aging worker population.
The department also has launched a unique private-public partnership with the
Atlantic Philanthropies, which will invest an additional $3.6 million in this
effort.

"Older Americans are an important part of the workforce, and their skills and
experience are of tremendous value to our nation," said Secretary of Labor
Hilda L. Solis. "With expanded education and training opportunities, such as
those made possible through this grant, older workers can broaden their own
career opportunities and further contribute to the growth of industries across
the United States."

Ten awards of approximately $1 million each have been made to organizations in
Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont,
Washington state and Wisconsin. The grants awarded today target older
individuals who have been laid off and are seeking re-employment; need to stay
in the workforce beyond the traditional retirement age but need training to
increase their skills; and face other barriers to employment such as
disabilities or low levels of English proficiency.

As part of its investment in the Aging Workforce Initiative, the Atlantic
Philanthropies has funded the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and
the Council on Competitiveness to provide assistance to the grantees, and
document and disseminate effective strategies to promote career opportunities
for older workers.

The ability to develop, attract and retain a well-educated and skilled
workforce is a key factor in economic growth. Successful applicants recognized
that older workers are a valuable, though often underutilized, labor pool that
can meet the workforce needs of regional economies. Currently, 22.6 percent
of the U.S. population is over the age of 55.

"In the wake of the economic downturn, the impact of the Aging Worker
Initiative is all the more important," said Marcia Smith, senior vice
president of the Atlantic Philanthropies. "This effort will create
opportunities for older adults to work, support themselves and their families,
and contribute to the reinvigoration of their local economies."

To access a fact sheet on the Aging Worker Initiative and information about
the individual grantees, visit
http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/AWI_One_Pagers_Fact_Sheet.pdf. For information on
the range of Department of Labor employment and training programs, visit
http://www.doleta.gov.

Editors Note: A complete list of award-winning organizations follows this news
release.
U.S. Department of Labor Grants to Connect Older Workers to Career
Opportunities

Organization State Industry/Sector Amount

Tecumseh Area Indiana Health care, Advanced $1,000,000
Partnership Manufacturing,
Inc. Information
Technology and
Transportation

Quad Area Louisiana Health care/Science, $1,000,000
Community Construction/Skilled
Action Agency Labor, Energy,
Inc. Transportation,
Architecture/Engineering,
and Financial and
Administrative
Office Support

Coastal Counties Maine Health care and $1,000,000
Workforce Inc. Energy/Green
Construction

Baltimore Maryland Health care $967,005
Country Office
of Workforce
Development

Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Demand occupations in $979,400
Workforce multiple industries
Development
Board Inc.

South Central Pennsylvania Health care, $971,000
Workforce Information
Investment Technology and
Board Advanced
Manufacturing

Goodwill Texas Accounting and $999,949
Industries of Financial Services,
Houston Inc. Health care,
Computer Technology,
and Specialized
Construction

Vermont Vermont Information $1,000,000
Associates for Technology, Finance
Training and and Administrative
Development Support Services,
Inc. and Health care

Seattle-King Washington Health care, $1,000,000
County Information
Workforce Technology and Green
Development Jobs
Council

Fox Valley Wisconsin Health care, $1,000,000
Workforce Telecommunications
Development and Manufacturing
Board

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at
http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made
available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from
the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing
your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is
committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to
understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations.
For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor

Jaime Zapata of the U.S. Department of Labor, +1-202-693-4676