grant application with pen

Especially with frontline workers in the cleaning industry, finding and retaining employees can be a difficult task in the current hiring landscape. A program launched by the Untied States Department of Labor (DOL), however, is providing opportunities for potential candidates seeking a second chance. 

Last week, the DOL announced the award of $50,643,113 in Pathway Home grants to 18 organizations in 14 states to provide training and employment services to adults reentering the workforce following incarceration in a local jail or state correctional facility.

“Leaders across all industries recognize that providing incarcerated people with quality job training creates opportunities for them to reunite with their families, enter the workforce and attain stable, quality employment upon release,” says U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The Department of Labor supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to empowering Americans who have paid their debt to society by providing them a pathway to a seamless transition to employment and reentry support.”

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the Pathway Home grants will allow organizations to provide training and employment services to incarcerated people who are scheduled for release within 20 to 270 days from the time they enroll in the project. They also seek to improve coordination between key partners in the reentry process, including workforce development agencies, community and state corrections agencies, jails, local health and human service providers, employers and unions.

On March 7, 2022, the department announced the availability of grants to improve employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, while meeting the needs of the local labor market. The reentry grants support the Biden-Harris administration’s comprehensive strategy to lower recidivism rates and decrease crime.

The list of the recipients for the third round of Pathway Home grants is available here.