Department of Workforce Development

Friday, February 14, 2003 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman

News Media Contact Teresa Weidemann-Smith 608/266-3999 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Agency Issues 1.3 Million in Grants to Expand Job Center Access

Federal grant to assist Limited English speaking job seekers with employment services

MADISON -- Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that the department has awarded $1.36 million in funds to 8 of the 11 Wisconsin Workforce Development Boards from a grant from the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The grant will be used to enhance access to employment services for limited English speaking customers in many of the state’s One Stop Job Centers. It will foster partnerships with community and faith-based organizations that already have long-standing ties to immigrant and refugee populations.

"Wisconsin has long been recognized as a leader in the development of our One-Stop Job Center system," said DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman. "This grant money will not only help these Job Centers expand existing services for people with linguistic and cultural barriers who may have difficulty accessing services, but will also provide extensive outreach to families in need."

The DOL, Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, awarded the funds to expand the partnerships within the states’ One-Stop System to include Faith and Community based organizations linked with those populations whose first language is not English. The 8 Workforce Development Areas receiving grant money will focus on intensive outreach to the immigrant communities about the services available at their local Job Center, and will contract with community and faith–based organizations to provide expanded services. These services include, but are not limited to: evening English as a Second Language classes, bilingual support and translation, vocational training, assistance in accessing programs and cross cultural education for Job Center staff and area employers.

"One of the advantages of the One-Stop Job Centers is the ability to provide a multitude of resources in one location for people seeking employment," said Secretary Gassman. "As more non-English speaking workers enter the state, with these federal dollars, we can develop ways to provide quality services to help integrate them into the workforce so they can provide for their families."

A list of the Workforce Development Areas and the corresponding Job Centers receiving grant money include:

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