Rep. Fattah Announces $37 Million Job Corps Grant and Welcomes Labor Secretary Solis to Philadelphia

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Oct 27, 2011, 06:17 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02) announced today that the Philadelphia Jobs Corps Center will receive $37,384,542 from the U.S. Department of Labor over the next five years to continue training young Philadelphians for economy-lifting employment.

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At the same time Fattah is also welcoming to Philadelphia the U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis for a youth oriented program Friday, Oct. 28. Both will participate in a panel discussion at Esperanza Academy Charter High School, 301 W. Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia at 1 p.m. The program is expected to include presentations on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects that are crucial to advancing educational and economic prospects for college-bound students.

MEDIA COVERAGE IS INVITED. AN INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY WITH REP. FATTAH AND SECRETARY SOLIS WILL FOLLOW THE PROGRAM.

"The Job Corps has a long record of success in Philadelphia and nationwide," Fattah said. "I have been advocating for this program and supporting its funding since day one. And I was honored to speak last year to the graduating class at the Navy Yard. Every federal dollar spent on this valuable training is repaid many times over as these tax-paying young people step out from the Job Corps into tomorrow's global economy."

The Job Corps Center is located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, at 2810 S. 20th Street, and currently has more than 350 students enrolled. The Labor Department administers Job Corps as a free education and career technical training program for those aged 16 to 24 seeking to improve their lives. Philadelphia is the nation's first non-residential Job Corps Center, catering especially to motivated young men and women in an urban environment.

The grant announced today provides for the Operations, Outreach & Admissions, and Career Transitions Services Contract at the Philadelphia Job Corps Center. It is being awarded to Management and Training Corporation (MTC), the operator at Philadelphia for a base period through October 31, 2013, with three option years.

See http://philadelphia.jobcorps.gov/Home.aspx for more information.

For career trades offered see http://philadelphia.jobcorps.gov/vocations.aspx.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah