HARTFORD, CT -- In an effort to support workforce and economic development in the State of Connecticut, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA or Authority), is proud to announce a major commitment to statewide workforce initiatives. CHEFA’s Board of Directors met on January 15th and awarded FY 2020 Targeted Grant Program grants totaling $1 Million Dollars to four organizations. The following entities and programs each received a grant in the amount of $250,000:
- Career Resources, Inc. - To support the STRIVE Program, Workforce Development and Job Readiness Training for employment challenged and formerly justice-involved individuals, in four cities (Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury), and to start a pre-release program at York Correctional Facility and Cheshire Correctional Facility TRUE Unit.
- Statewide Workforce Development Boards – To support First-Time Employment for Opportunity Youth (ages 16-24) Summer (in-school youth) and year-round (out of school youth).
- Working Cities Challenge (fiscal agent CT Council for Philanthropy) – To support a major workforce and economic development initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Five Connecticut cities (Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, Middletown, Waterbury) have been designated as Working Cities and focus on community driven solutions to workforce issues in their communities.
- Statewide Workforce Development Boards – To support Training and Remove Barriers to Employment (childcare, transportation, training costs, certification fees, work-related necessities) for job growth sectors (Manufacturing, Healthcare, IT, Logistics and Transportation, Hospitality) through the statewide American Job Centers.
In 2019, the CHEFA Board of Directors voted to align the FY 2019-FY 2021 Targeted Grant Program (addressing an impactful statewide need in multiple communities) with their three year Strategic Plan Pillar of “Economic and Workforce Development for the Public Good” by awarding grants over $100,000 to statewide workforce initiatives. Workforce Development fits within CHEFA’s Grant Program Priority of Education.
“Workforce is one of the seminal issues for the State of Connecticut. Investing in the current and future workforce will help to ensure the vitality of the state. We are proud to support efforts to facilitate employment for Opportunity Youth; individuals formerly justice system involved; those facing barriers to employment and training; as well as the Working Cities Challenge communities focused on grass-roots level economic and workforce development” said Estela Lopez, CHEFA Grant Committee Chairperson and Board Member.
CHEFA provides access to tax-exempt financing and other financial assistance to educational institutions, healthcare providers, childcare providers and other eligible not-for-profit entities.
CHEFA established the Grant Program in 2002 to provide nonprofit organizations, operating or seeking to operate a program(s) in Connecticut, with the opportunity to access funding through competitive grants. Since inception, CHEFA Grant Programs have provided over $33 million dollars to Connecticut nonprofit organizations. This program was made possible through the fiscally responsible management of the Authority by CHEFA Officers and Board of Directors, and UTILIZES NO STATE OF CONNECTICUT FUNDS.
CHEFA will issue a Letter of Interest for the FY 2021 Targeted Grant Program in the Summer/Fall of 2020 for statewide workforce initiatives. For more information, or to find out if your program would qualify, please contact Betty Sugerman Weintraub, CHEFA Grant Program Manager at 860.761.8428 or bweintraub@chefa.com.
Photo: Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash.
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