The U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao, announced that approximately $20 million will be competitively awarded for projects that carry out the Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI).

The initiative is designed to reduce recidivism and help non-violent prisoners prepare for work as they reenter the community. “The President is an advocate of the Prisoner Reentry Initiative because he believes that people who have made mistakes in the past should have a second chance to succeed and be given the opportunity to become contributing members of society,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Successful reentry programs that provide job training and other transitional services, can turn around lives as well as help local communities.”

The competition for grants will remain open until July 13, 2005, with awards to follow. The SGA will seek strategies that draw on the unique strengths of faith-based and community organizations to deliver services to ex-prisoners by providing a link to the communities to which they return.

The PRI is designed to help strengthen urban communities and assist ex-prisoners reentering the community through an employment-based program that incorporates housing, mentoring, job training and other transitional services.

The SGA was developed in collaboration with key leaders from the Departments of Labor, Justice, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services.

For more information on the SGA, please visit www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm or check the Federal Register. For more information on the Department of Labor’s employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.