May 2002 (Newstream) -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on May 3 announced three new Department of Labor grants specifically designed to link faith-based and grassroots community organizations to the nation's One-Stop Career System. The grants will be administered and funded through the department's Employment and Training Administration and the new Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

"We are opening the Department of Labor's doors, and its funds, to those faith-based and community groups who are transforming America one life and one heart at a time. These organizations can serve as a critical component of our workforce system and can provide an effective bridge to the employment and training system," said Chao at an afternoon news conference. "We are proud that the department is making the president's Faith-Based and Community Initiative a reality. This is the first new grant program in the entire federal government targeted specifically at the faith-based and community groups."

The grants are a central component of President George W. Bush's effort to realign federal policy and programs to ensure accessibility for all qualified organizations to compete for government funds. Secretary Chao announced the following three grant solicitations:

• 25 grants of $20,000 to $25,000 to faith-based and community groups that provide employment, training and other services. Simplified application and reporting requirements will make sure these dollars are spent effectively and efficiently.
• $5 million in grants for regional intermediaries to develop networks of faith-based and community organizations to become partners with the existing One-Stop Career System.
• $10 million in grants to encourage state workforce programs to link faith-based and community groups to the One-Stop employment centers. The grants will encourage states to develop special plans to reach out and include grassroots, faith-based and community organizations to fill the gaps in their delivery systems. The Department of Labor is one of five federal cabinet agencies with a Faith-Based and Community Initiative Center.