Bethlehem, PA – December 20, 2019 – State Senator Lisa M. Boscola announced today that a grant in the amount of $988,925 will be coming to the Lehigh Valley to prepare young adults who were in the justice system for reentry into the job market. Funding through the PA Department of Labor and Industry’s Youth Reentry Demonstration Project has been awarded to the Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board.
“It’s critical that we engage youth who are or previously been in the justice system in a coordinated approach to assist them in obtaining the education and skills necessary to obtain gainful employment,” Senator Boscola stated. “The Lehigh Valley’s Workforce Development Board has a long history of successfully working with Lehigh Valley residents to get the job training and skills necessary for employment. This funding will make a positive impact on getting youth out of the justice system and into our workforce.”
Specifically, the grant was awarded to the Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board to provide referrals of youth who were incarcerated or subject to the justice system and to reengage them into education, training and employment.
Statewide, 10 Workforce Development Boards received Youth Reentry Demonstration Project grants totaling $5.8 million. The state program is 100% funded through federal money made available from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
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