Mobile Works to Fund over $1,900,000 for Youth Programs in 2004
Wednesday, May 12th, 2004Public-private economic development group awards
over $900,000 for youth jobs / education to date
MOBILE, Alabama � May 12, 2004 � Thanks to Mobile Works, Inc., over $1.9 million will be awarded in 2004 for several youth programs designed to help Mobile youth become job-ready. Mobile Works announced today that to date it had awarded over $900,000 in contracts to local organizations as part of its continuing effort to increase the available labor pool of skilled jobseekers in the Mobile area.
"We are proud to partner with local organizations and schools that are making a positive impact on our youth and indeed our entire community. We strive to better the Mobile economy by funding job growth and the lives of its citizens by providing job and educational opportunities,� said Sydney G. Raine, President of Mobile Works. Since its inception in 2000, the group has donated more than $5.9 million to fund job and educational programs for Mobile area youth out of the over $19 million given overall to support Mobile area job and educational programs.
Mobile Works received the funds earmarked for them as Mobile County�s Workforce Investment Board from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). ADECA, in turn, received the funds from the U.S. Department of Labor. Mobile Works determines the best use of the funds in keeping with its mission.
�Mobile Works has been a prodigious supporter of the youth programs in the Mobile community and in helping us reach out and assist those youth who need our services most," said Dorinda Franklin, the School to Work Supervisor for the Mobile County Public School System. Local providers for five different programs were recently awarded contracts, including Mobile County Public Schools; Volunteer Mobile, in partnership with DESI Career Training Center; Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama; the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Governor�s Forum for Disabled Youth.
Summer Jobs for Youth 2004
Mobile Works awarded $437,741 to Summer Jobs for Youth 2004, a 12-month program delivered by the Mobile County Public School System that will serve 275 low-income in-school at-risk youth aged 14-18, including graduating seniors, to improve their career and leadership potential to assist students in getting a job or furthering their education.
job.smart 2004
Mobile Works gave $213,236 to fund the job.smart 2004 program delivered by Volunteer Mobile, in partnership with Dynamic Educational Systems Inc. (DESI) Career Training Center of Mobile. The Foster Youth 2004 program is an 18-month venture that is assisting 30 low-income, out-of-school youth ages 18-21 who have recently left the foster care system in becoming self-sufficient and finding a job.
Broadening Horizons Youth 2004
Mobile Works bestowed $212,346 to Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama to fund Broadening Horizons Youth 2004, an 18-month pilot project that assists 35 low-income, out-of-school youth aged 17-18 who are exiting various community-based alternative commitment programs for juvenile offenders. The youth will be transitioned into P.O.I.N.T.E. Academy, where they will work one-on-one with a job coach on life skills and leadership training, while working toward their GED or high school diploma, with the opportunity for job shadowing and obtain work experience with the potential for job placement.
2004 Summer Jobs
Mobile Works gave $32,130 to fund 2004 Summer Jobs, a 9-month program delivered by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) that will serve 10 low-income in-school disabled youth aged 14-21, currently receiving rehabilitation services (deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or severely disabled) or referred by a counselor and deemed eligible by Mobile Works. Students will be matched with appropriate jobs for their skills and abilities with participating local businesses.
Transition Weekend 2004
Mobile Works granted $9,900 to fund Transition Weekend 2004, delivered by the Governor�s Forum for Disabled Youth and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Designed for low-income, post-secondary bound high school students aged 14-18 who are vision-impaired or legally blind and their parents, Transition Weekend will help the families of ten students of diverse backgrounds plan for their visually-impaired student�s future independence and career.
Students for all programs are selected based on academic record, counselor recommendations, work experience, financial need and additional factors affecting eligibility based on the particular program involved.
Mobile Works, Inc., a local partnership of business, education, labor and community leaders, provides businesses with training, leadership, labor market information and employment programs designed to stimulate local business by meeting the needs of Mobile area businesses while increasing the available labor pool of skilled jobseekers in the Mobile area, including south Alabama, south Mississippi and northwest Florida. Mobile Works is the workforce development organization for the Mobile area operating under Alabama�s Workforce Investment Act.
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Contact:
Gia Dinges
Director of Marketing
251-432-0909 phone
[email protected] email
www.mobile-works.org website
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