New Orleans, Louisiana - April 10, 2006 - Today, Mrs. Laura Bush, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and National Urban League President and CEO, Marc H. Morial announced a $20 million grant extension to the National Urban League's successful "Urban Youth Empowerment Program" to continue provide at-risk African American youth with job training, job placement and educational skills building. The two year, 2006-2008 grant will expand the program to enable Urban League affiliates to offer assistance, job training and job placement in the Gulf Coast region and Katrina impacted areas including New Orleans, LA. Houston, TX. Birmingham, AL, Austin, TX. Jackson, MS, Oklahoma City, OK and Dallas, TX.

"The Department of Labor's extension of the grant will enable the Urban League affiliates to reach over 3,000 people; building on the successful skills building and jobs program that has given a second chance to at-risk young men and women in 15 communities across the country," said Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. "The expansion of this program to New Orleans and other populations impacted by Hurricane Katrina is critical as another step in rebuilding the lives of people in the Gulf Coast region."

Through the extension of the grant, the National Urban League will expand the Urban Youth Empowerment Program from 15 to 27 urban locations across the country. At the sites, over 3,000 young men and women between the ages of 18 and 21; (18-24 years old in the Gulf Coast region), will receive intensive educational and remedial assistance to earn a GED or high school diploma, on-the job skills development through faith based, community service organizations and private sector internships to help them prepare for full-time job placements in the private sector. Twenty five percent of the two-year $20 million grant is targeted to the seven Urban League affiliates stated above as part of the Gulf Coast component of the program.

Initially funded by the Department of Labor in 2004 in fifteen Urban League affiliates, the "Urban Youth Empowerment Program" brought together the Urban League, federal workforce investment system and its local One-Stop Career Centers, state and local government, business, education and faith-based and community-based organizations. The program has been highly successful to date, producing the following results:

• Impacted 1,144 enrollees including ex-offenders and drops outs
• 25% pf participants earned their GED's and/or high school diplomas; reading and math skills increased by 40%
• Increased average earnings by 12% above targeted goal of $7.00 per hour
• Recidivism rate for participants was 50% less than anticipated

The $20 million two year grant will enable the Urban Youth Empowerment Program to expand twelve Urban League affiliates located in Austin, TX, Elyria, OH, Hartford, CT, Houston, TX, Jackson, MS, Jacksonville, FL, Lancaster, PA, Louisville, KY, New Orleans (and temporary Baton Rouge location) LA, Oklahoma City, OK , Sacramento, CA and Washington, DC.

In addition, the funds will enable the program to continue to operate in fifteen Urban League affiliates including Aurora, IL, Baltimore, MD, Birmingham, AL, Champaign, IL, Charlotte, NC, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Orlando, FL, Peoria, IL, Pittsburgh, PA, Rochester, NY, St. Louis, MO and Tucson, AZ.

The Department of Labor is awarding under the Youth Offender Demonstration Project. The grants are being presented to faith-based and community organizations that can best reach youth who are currently involved with the court system or at risk of involvement. The goal of the grants is to connect this segment of the community with job training programs and employment opportunities.

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