Press Release Archive

October 2005

The WorkPlace, Inc. has won a $557,000 grant from the US Dept. of Education to work with partners on “Western Connecticut’s Project with Industries.” This award is our 21st federal competitive grant. This project will target people with disabilities and utilize a multi-tiered job placement process.

The WorkPlace will partner with the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, the State of Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), and the Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) to serve people in both the Southwestern and Northwestern regions. The funding provides support for 3 years. The project’s primary goal is to assist individuals with disabilities, including those with significant disabilities, to obtain competitive employment in a cost effective manner. The secondary goal is to establish a self-sustaining agency based on a fee-for-service business model that will serve end-user businesses by providing them with skilled workers who have disabilities.

This grant from The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services of the U.S. Department of Education will enable The WorkPlace and its partners to leverage the resources of the CTWorks system in serving people with disabilities and employers in the 61 cities and towns of Western Connecticut (20 Southwest and 41 Northwest). The project will serve 270 participants over three years, 60% of whom will be placed in jobs with an average wage increase of at least $125 per week.

This is an exciting new project for our region and for The WorkPlace. With the coming workforce and skills shortages, the opportunities for people who are well-prepared for work should be excellent. By providing targeted services for people with disabilities and strong links to businesses, “Western Connecticut’s Project with Industries” promises to facilitate matching, enabling more people to be productive members of our communities.

For more information, visit www.workplace.org.