For Release: Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

LEWIS AND CLARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GRANT

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced today that Lewis & Clark Community College has been awarded a $1,100,000 YouthBuild grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

YouthBuild is a nonresidential, community-based alternative education program that provides classroom instruction and occupational skills training to at-risk individuals ages 16-24. Many participants have been in the juvenile justice system, are aging out of foster care, have dropped out of high school, or are otherwise at-risk of failing to reach key educational milestones and opportunities that lead to career fulfillment.

The YouthBuild grants that will be announced today are the first awarded under new program regulations published in February 2012, which expand occupational skills training beyond construction to include fast-growing industries such as health care and information technology.

“Providing alternative education opportunities for at-risk youth is a win-win situation,” said Costello. “We invest in our young people who learn valuable job skills that enable them to contribute to the economic development of our region.”

###