Department of Labor Offers $15M in Grants for Employment of People with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has made nearly $15 million available for state workforce agencies in an attempt to “develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in existing career pathways programs in the public workforce system.” These grants are the fifth round of funds made available through the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) from the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy. The DEI, which has awarded in the range of $81 million to service people with disabilities through public workforce systems, aims to award at least one grant for projects focusing on adults with disabilities (18 and up), projects focusing on youth with disabilities (14-24) and projects focusing on individuals 14 years and older with significant disabilities. Eight different grants will likely be awarded and will range from $1.5 to $2.5 million for a 42 month span. To apply, please visit http://www.grants.gov. For details regarding the definition of “people with disabilities” for purposes of this funding, please visit the link below.  Application deadlien is July 8, 2014.