(Washington, DC) The Workforce Investment Council (WIC), in collaboration with the Department of Employment Services (DOES), recently received an eighteen month discretionary grant totaling $494,308 from the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The grant funding has been awarded to six local faith and community-based organizations to make available job readiness training and job placement assistance to jobless residents. The District was one of 12 national grant recipients.
“This grant will target our hardest to serve jobless residents in neighborhoods where there are unusually high levels of poverty and joblessness,” said Department of Employment Services Director Gregg Irish. “The WIC and DOES have partnered with grass root organizations that can offer job readiness skills and social support services – such as transportation, access to clothes, and child care.”
There were 7 neighborhoods identified in the WIC’s faith-based grant proposal, which included: Elvans Road in Ward 8, Columbia Heights in Wards 1 and 4; Sursum Corda-North Capitol in Ward 6; Trinidad in Ward 5; Lincoln Heights in Ward 7; SW/Half Street in Ward 2; Benning Road in Ward 5; and Condon Terrace in Ward 8. Of the 22 local proposals submitted to the WIC and DOES for funding consideration, sub-grants ranging from $35,000 to $50,000 were awarded to the following:
- Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church--Wards 5 and 6 (Sursum Corda/North Capitol/Trinidad)
New Commandment Baptist Church Jobs Partnership--Wards 2 and 4 (Petworth and Georgia Ave.)
ARRIBA Center--Wards 1 and 2 (Columbia Heights, Downtown and Mt. Pleasant)
Columbia Heights Development Corporation--Ward 1 (Columbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, Georgia Ave.)
National Association for Community Empowerment--Ward 8 (Condon Terrace, Elvans Road, Anacostia)
Upper Room Baptist Church--Ward 7 (Benning Road, Lincoln Heights, Benning Terrace and East of the River neighborhoods).
Each organization will provide much needed job readiness assistance and job referrals, as well as training for the General Education Diploma (GED), substance abuse counseling, shelter and other services that link city residents with the DOES One Stop Career Centers and available community resources. The overall goal, as outlined by the Department of Labor for the twelve sites selected to receive grants, is to place approximately 2,000 individuals in jobs nationwide. The District’s goal is to place 150 jobless residents into jobs and monitor their retention for at least six months while providing them with needed support to sustain employment.
For additional information about available faith and community-based programs, contact
DC Department of Employment Services
Workforce Development Bureau
Office of Employer Services
609 H Street, NE, Suite 416
Washington, DC 20002
Voice: (202) 698-6001
Fax: 698-5717