US Department of Labor awards $46.5M in grants to help young people in communities affected by violence, poverty find opportunities to succeed

WASHINGTON - To overcome structural barriers such as violence and poverty that keep many young people from access to employment and reaching their potential, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $46.5 million in grants to support programs that address the impacts of community violence and help justice-involved young people succeed in the labor market.

Administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration, the Growth Opportunities program focuses on helping young people in communities plagued by violence by supporting local organizations that provide participants with jobs, training and other supportive services, such as leadership development, mentoring and conflict resolution.

Adolescents exposed to firearm violence - as victims or witnesses - are twice as likely to commit a violent act within two years. To reduce the potential for further violence, the department offers Growth Opportunities grants to enable organizations to provide young people in underserved communities with foundational skills and opportunities needed to succeed in the future.

Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the department's Reentry Employment Opportunitiesprogram provides funding for justice-involved young people who were formerly incarcerated. On July 31, 2024, the department made funding available for the fifth round of Growth Opportunities grants, a Reentry Employment Opportunities initiative.

The department awarded Growth Opportunities grants to the following recipients: