Nontraditional Occupations Grants
Women entering nontraditional occupations are
benefiting from $1,000,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Labor through
the Women's Bureau.
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The "Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations" or WANTO
grants have been awarded to 11 community-based organizations that help
employers and unions establish apprenticeship programs, recruit women and help
overcome barriers to women in nontraditional jobs.
"Apprenticeship training is a great opportunity for women to gain
valuable skills that can advance their careers with better paying jobs," said
Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "By expanding the skills of America's working women,
we are addressing the needs of our workforce and assisting women in the
development of rewarding careers. When women win, families win."
Under the WANTO initiative, 11 community-based
organizations were awarded grants on September 30, 2002 to provide on-site
technical assistance to employers and unions that develop strategies to
increase the employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
"Today's women are moving into positions of influence and leadership
faster than ever. It's happening on factory floors and on Wall Street - even in
government," says Women's Bureau Director Shinae Chun. "This grant program will
assist women to gain the skills they need to find and hold good jobs,
particularly in fields many women have not previously explored. From Maine to
California, women will have more opportunities as a result of these
grants."
The WANTO grantees are:
- Oregon Tradeswoman, Inc., Portland, Oregon
- Nontraditional Employment for Women, New York, N.Y.
- Women in the Building Trades, Dorchester, Massachusetts
- Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., Kihei, Hawaii
- Tradeswomen, Inc., Oakland, California
- Chicago Women in Trades, Chicago, Illinois
- Workforce Connections, Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Century Housing Corporation, Culver City, California
- Women Unlimited, Augusta, Maine
- Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, Denver, Colorado
- Hard Hatted Women, Cleveland, Ohio
As large numbers of skilled workers retire from the workforce, filing
the "skills gap" and identifying workers for these important jobs is central to
keeping the U.S. competitive and strong. Women will play an essential role in
filling these jobs. Professional opportunities in the skilled trades are
financially rewarding as they offer higher entry-level wages and hourly pay
between $20 and $30 per hour, or higher.
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 in the trades for women can be
found on the Women's Bureau's Nontraditional
Occupations site.
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For More Information About WB, Contact: U.S.
Department of Labor Women's Bureau 200 Constitution Avenue, NW - Room
S-3002 Washington, DC 20210 Telephone 1-800-827-5335 or (202)
693-6710 Fax (202) 693-6725
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