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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded grants totaling
$1,240,481 to five states to provide effective business-related training to
persons developing a microenterprise, announced Secretary of Labor Alexis M.
Herman. A microenterprise is generally defined as a business with fewer than
five employees and with initial credit needs under $15,000.
"These Department of Labor grants for the training of
entrepreneurs could not be more timely, for they come at a time when small
businesses are employing a growing share of America's workers," said First Lady
Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The grantees will provide technical assistance and support
to owners or potential owners of a microenterprise. The awardees and program
descriptions are:
State of Connecticut Department of Labor $205,481
The program will provide training, technical assistance and
support services to microenterprise owners or potential owners located in the
eastern half of the state, which has long suffered from high unemployment rates
due to loss of manufacturing and defense industry jobs. In addition, the
program will provide linkages with coordinating agencies and lending
institutions which offer business services.
State of Maine Department of Labor $210,000
This project will work with customers of the One-Stop
Center identified as low-income and/or dislocated workers, providing them with
services needed to support enterprise development. This project will also
expand client services to vocational rehabilitation clients, welfare recipients
and the broader populations. Individuals will then be linked with the
information and resources needed for their successful reentry into the labor
market.
State of Vermont $300,000
This project will conduct primary and secondary marketing
research to connect clients to markets with strong demand, create five Market
Research Centers statewide where clients will receive intensive case management
and group support, and develop an on-line "smart-site" oriented to micro
business marketing needs.
Michigan Jobs Commission $225,000
This microenterprise project will bring new and better
resources to the state's business and job development programs to increase
economic activity in depressed areas of the state. The state will also round
out its various economic development initiatives by promoting microenterprise
efforts, and fully integrate economic development and workforce development
activities. It recognizes the need to couple public funds now with private
sources to more fully develop these services.
State of Iowa $300,000
This project will formally institutionalize microenterprise
development training into the state's workforce development delivery system. By
integrating the state's Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program with the
microenterprise development capacities, the workforce development system will
be enhanced by training with an existing service provider in order to make
microenterprise development a more viable option for JTPA recipients throughout
the state.
These awards are authorized under Title IV of the Job
Training Partnership Act (JTPA). They will be funded under Title III, Part B of
the act.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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