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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

ETA Press Release: Vice President Al Gore and Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman Announce Connecticut to Share in $2.2 Billion for Welfare to Work Grants [07/21/1998]

For more information call: (202) 219-8211

Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman today announced that Connecticut has been approved for a Welfare to Work grant totaling $12 million to help the hardest- to-employ welfare recipients find good jobs. These grants are part of the $2.2 billion available for state grants to help local communities transform the lives of long-term welfare recipients.

“While millions have made the move from welfare-to-work, there are still many who need our help,” Vice President Gore said. “President Clinton and I are committed to helping Connecticut’s long-term welfare recipients get the work experience and skills they need to find and keep good jobs.”

“This grant will help Connecticut’s newest workers get the critical services that will help them be successful in a job,” said Herman. “The funds will help new workers to overcome obstacles such as inadequate skills, lack of transportation to get to a job and access to affordable, quality child care. By removing these barriers new workers and their families can have a chance at a better life.”

Connecticut joins Alabama, Arkansas , Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin in putting the Administration’s Welfare-to-Work initiative into action.

Under the 1997 Budget Reconciliation Act, $2.2 billion is being allocated by formula over two years to states based on their population of poor people and adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Another $711.5 million is being awarded on a competitive basis directly by the Secretary of Labor to local communities for projects that emphasize innovation, collaboration and sustainable strategies to attain quality employment, earnings and other successful outcomes for welfare recipients.

Connecticut is receiving a grant because its plan has been approved by the department, enabling the Secretary of Labor to disburse its welfare-to-work formula funds. Eighty-five percent of the funds will be sent to Private Industry Councils that will design and operate collaborative, integrated programs tailored to meet local labor market needs.

The grants may be used to fund unsubsidized and subsidized employment; work experience; on-the-job training; and post employment retention services, such as child care and transportation assistance. Connecticut is encouraging innovative approaches to transportation issues, such as expanded routes and hours of operation to accommodate various work shifts and childcare sites, and use of the workforce development system’s One-Stop services, which offer clients a wide menu of job search techniques, labor market information and other helpful employment services.

Editor’s Note: The grant amount and state contact listed for Connecticut follow:

FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED TO STATE: $12,005,943

STATE MATCH: $6,002,972

STATE AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM:

Connecticut Department of Labor

200 Folly Brook Boulevard

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Contact: Mr. James P. Butler, Commissioner

(860) 566-4384

CONNECTICUT

The State of Connecticut will use its Welfare-to-Work (WtW) funds to enhance, supplement and expand Connecticut’s TANF program and services.

Amount of Grant: $12,005,943

Match Provided: $ 6,002,972

Total Investment in the State of Connecticut: $18,008,915

TANF Caseload Numbers:

Populations Served:

TANF recipients

Innovative Services:

Involvement of One-Stop. A broad assessment determines whether the client can be referred for direct placement services or to a One-Stop Center for further assessment and participation in workshops. Here participants are provided access to a wide menu of workshops including: job search techniques, labor market information, interviewing techniques, communications skills, job clubs, job retention, networking, and self assessment skills. Should clients be assessed to be in need of additional services, they are referred to the Workforce Development Boards for WtW services. A State team is designing an assessment and ISS tool that will follow the customer through-out the above process.

Basic Services and Other Activities:

• Assessment
• On-the-job-training
• Work experience
• Job readiness
• Placement
• Post-employment services
• Support services

Emphasis on Supportive Services:

Transportation. The State has met with representatives of local operators, Chambers of Commerce, and employers to discuss transportation issues. CT DOL will encourage innovative approaches to transportation problems and will support additional services. These include expanded routes and hours of operation (to accommodate various shifts and access to childcare sites). Coordination will occur with TANF, which is currently supporting three pilot transportation programs that help clients get to and from work.

Housing. The State will continue to foster, facilitate, maintain and expand numerous partnerships and cooperative relationships between JTPA and TANF and the various housing agencies. As part of a statewide identification and coordination effort, an inventory of services (developed under a Memorandum of Understanding - MOU) has collected data from 314 housing providers.

Governor’s 15%:

Governor Rowland, through CT DOL, will identify specific projects for the 15% funds. Projects will support and complement the State's Workforce Development Boards and competitive grant strategies. Any remaining funds will supplement the 85% funds.

Distribution of Funds to Localities:

• 50% based on poverty
• 25% on unemployment
• 25% TANF recipients

State Coordination:

Partners include: the Connecticut Departments of Labor and Social Services, Workforce Development Boards, the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission, local transportation operators, Chambers of Commerce, housing agencies, community-based organizations, public and private health agencies, vocational rehabilitation agencies, and One-Stop Centers.

Measures of Success:

Achieving successful placements in unsubsidized employment

Increasing the duration of such placements

Increasing wage earnings

Connecticut's Competitive Grants:

The Workplace, Inc.

John M. Carbone, President

and Chief Operating Officer

350 Fairfield Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

(203) 576-7030

The project seeks to provide a strong, long-term job retention component with occupational and life skills development training. It grants tax incentives to employers who hire TANF clients and it creates permanent employment opportunities and promotes entrepreneurial opportunities. It partially subsidizes the TANF client wages during a learning period and it provides support services that will enhance employment retention, career development, and economic sufficiency. Child provider services (primarily staffed by WtW participants) and day care slots will be available through the creation of a new child care center. The project employs a People-to-Jobs Transportation Task Force that includes the regions's four major transit providers. A car donation and repair program allows WtW participants to not only receive vehicles and services, but also acquire training in the automotive/body work industry.

National Association of Private Industry Councils (multi-site)

Robert Knight, President

1201 New York Ave., N.W., Suite 350

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 289-2950

The National Association of Private Industry Councils will conduct post-employment occupational and basic skills training for more than 2,200 TANF recipients using state-of-the-art interactive computer technology. The project is designed to upgrade entry level skills, promote continuous learning, and assist participants in qualifying for promotions. Local partnerships will work as a team with employers in nine sites. Participants will be trained for one hour each day, for an average of ten weeks at the work-site, using a multimedia, contextual learning program. The program employed by community colleges will track the daily progress of participants and will provide personalized assistance. Beyond the concrete skills learned, this project will allow participants to understand the benefits of post-secondary education and may in the future be a model demonstration project. This project will be implemented in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges.

Substate Allocations:

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.