U.S. Labor Department Announces Grants to Promote Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $1 million in grants to benefit women entering nontraditional occupations. The grants will go to 10 community-based organizations, which will help employers and labor unions recruit, train, hire and retain women in apprenticeship and nontraditional jobs.

"This Administration is committed to helping women learn about the opportunities available and the fields of work, where long-term careers can be realized," said Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "From carpentry to masonry, more and more women are putting in long hours of training or retraining, and taking pride in the fact that their work is helping to make America greater."

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grantees are: Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., Portland, Oregon; Tradeswomen, Inc., Oakland, California; Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles, Long Beach, California; Nontraditional Employment for Women, New York, New York; Women's Resource Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Montana Job Training Partnership, Helena, Montana; HRC, Inc., Wasilla, Alaska; Northern New England Tradeswomen, Inc., Essex Junction, Vermont; Chicago Women in Trades, Chicago, Illinois; and Area Resources for Community and Human Services, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Women's Bureau administers the grants with the Labor Department's Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services. Additional information regarding nontraditional occupations for women can be found on the Women's Bureau website at: http://www.dol.gov/wb.

Source: U.S. Newswire