US Labor Department Announces More Than $140 Million in Grants to Provide Job Training Services to Unemployed, Low-income Older Adults

Press Release

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $140 million in grants to 19 non-profit organizations nationwide to provide critical job training and employment services through the Senior Community Service Employment Program.

"The grants announced today provide important opportunities for low-income seniors to improve their employment situation and contribute to the mission of non-profit organizations nationwide," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "These funds support our goal of helping every American who wants to work find a job that leads to better economic stability."

Twenty grants are being awarded to 19 national non-profit organizations through the program's general funds or funds set aside by statute to serve Native Americans or Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. The grants will support more than 34,000 positions. In addition, state and territorial grantees, which are awarded separately from this competition through a formula process, provide services for an additional 10,000 positions.

These awards provide funding through the end of Program Year 2016. After Program Year 2016, the department expects these grantees to receive approximately $337 million annually for an additional three years, subject to appropriations.

The SCSEP fosters economic self-sufficiency for older, low-income adults by providing tangible job skills training through community service assignments at non-profit and public facilities. Participants are unemployed, low-income individuals ages 55 years and older with poor employment prospects who will gain access to needed services. These services include orientations, community service assignments, occupational, work skills and aptitude assessments, skills training, free physical examinations, an assessment of needs-based supportive services and job search assistance. Participants can also receive employment assistance through the American Job Centers.

SCSEP participants spend more than 34 million hours per year working in community service assignments at public agencies and non-profit organizations while simultaneously developing crucial job skills that foster self-sufficiency.

Source