Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recently announced 17 grants, totaling more than $7.5 million dollars, to provide approximately 3,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP).

“No one pays a higher price for our freedom than our veterans, and I am committed to providing them the job training and re-employment assistance they need and deserve,” said Secretary Solis. “These grants will provide our veterans with tools and skills that will ensure they are prepared for the green jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Funds are being awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. These agencies are familiar with the areas and populations to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs.

Emphasis will be placed on training veterans who are interested in “green jobs” now in the marketplace or expected soon. Fields of employment include energy efficiency and renewable energy, modern electric-power development and clean vehicles. To view more information about this initiative, visit http://www.doleta.gov and look for the “green jobs” heading.

The VWIP grants will help veterans from targeted groups overcome employment barriers and ease their transition into unsubsidized jobs. Through this program, veterans receive skills assessments; individual job counseling; labor-market information; classroom or on-the-job training; skills upgrading and retraining; and placement assistance and follow-up services. The Labor Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service expects these grants to provide training for more than 3,000 veterans, who may also be eligible for services through other Workforce Investment Act programs for economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers.

Grantees under this program network and coordinate their efforts with various local, state and federal social service providers. More information on the Labor Department’s unemployment and re-employment programs for veterans is available at http://www.dol.gov/vets/.

A list of VWIP grants is below: VWIP Grantees beginning Program Year 2009 Grant “Active” Performance Period: July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010

State

 Grant Mod Amount Grantee Name

Ariz.

 $500,000 County of Pima

Calif.

 $300,000 Swords to Plowshares

Calif.

 $500,000 United States Veterans Initiative

Colo.

 $500,000 Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Conn.

 $500,000 The Workplace Inc.

Ind.

 $500,000 Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Mass.

 $500,000 Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Mass.

 $300,000 Veterans Inc. (formerly Massachusetts Veterans Inc)

Md.

 $500,000 Way Station, Inc.

Minn.

 $407,549 RESOURCE Inc.

N.C.

 $290,600 Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry

N.Y.

 $270,000 Veterans Outreach Center Inc.

Okla.

 $500,000 East Central University

Ore.

 $500,000 Community Solutions for Clackamas County

Pa.

 $500,000 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Department of Labor and Industry

Texas

 $500,000 American GI Forum

Texas

 $500,000 Goodwill Industries of Houston Inc

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Author: Tracey de Morsella (323 Articles)

Tracey de Morsella started her career working as an editor for US Technology Magazine. She used that experience to launch Delaware Valley Network, a publication for professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area. Years later, she used the contacts and resources she acquired to work in executive search specializing in technical and diversity recruitment. She has conducted recruitment training seminars for Wachovia Bank, the Department of Interior and the US Postal Service. During this time, she also created a diversity portal called The Multicultural Advantage and published the Diversity Recruitment Advertising Toolkit, a directory of recruiting resources for human resources professionals. Her career and recruitment articles have appeared in numerous publications and web portals including Woman Engineer Magazine, Monster.com, About.com Job Search Channel, Workplace Diversity Magazine, Society for Human Resource Management web site, NSBE Engineering Magazine, HR.com, and Human Resource Consultants Association Newsletter. Her work with technology professionals drew her to pursuing training and work in web development, which led to a stint at Merrill Lynch as an Intranet Manager. In March, she decided to combine her technical and career management expertise with her passion for the environment, and with her husband, launched The Green Economy Post, a blog providing green career information and covering the impact of the environment, sustainable building, cleantech and renewable energy on the US economy. Her sustainability articles have appeared on Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation, Chem.Info,FastCompany and CleanTechies.