Grants Promote Goals Of President's New Freedom Initiative

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today kicked off National Disability Employment Awareness Month by announcing the awarding of approximately $15.3 million in federal grants that will support President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative's goal of integrating Americans with disabilities into the workforce.

The department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) awarded forty-two (42) grants, each ranging from $50,000 to $750,000, and totaling about $15.3 million.

"This $15.3 million in grants to 42 organizations will help to promote the President's goal of increasing employment of Americans with disabilities into the 21st century workforce," said Secretary Chao. "These grants will support a variety of initiatives, including assistance to homeless workers who are disabled so they get the training and housing they need, aid to youth who are disabled so they are more likely to find and hold jobs when they get older, and specialized outreach to workers who are disabled at local Career One Stop Centers."

Secretary Chao added, "It is fitting that these grants are being announced during October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is not only a time to recognize and celebrate the many employment contributions of Americans who are disabled, but also to focus attention on the need to increase employment opportunities of people with disabilities."

ODEP's Assistant Secretary of Labor, Roy Grizzard, whose agency administers the grants, stated, "These initiatives will go a long way towards supporting individuals with disabilities as they seek and maintain employment. Today's announcement augments ODEP's ongoing commitment to continuing grant and contracting initiatives bringing its investment in employment policy research and evaluation to approximately $61.5 million since 2001."

Information on these and other Department of Labor initiatives are located at www.dol.gov. A list of grant recipients is attached.