The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on 10/21/02 announced the award of YouthBuild Grants in 35 states, with 4 of the grants going to Florida organizations in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Florida City and Gainesville. Each grant is for about $400,000 and is to be used to provide on-the-job training, leadership skills and academic schooling to low-income, at risk youth, particularly high school drop-outs. The Florida grantees include 3 CBOs and a local housing authority, all of which are partnered up with other CBOs, a Regional Workforce Board, government agencies, FBOs, educational institutions, and other public and private partners. The HUD press release, list of awards, and summaries of projects and partners are at: http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=hudyuthbld.htm

Congratulations to the Florida winners. Other CBOs, FBOs, RWBs and other local community organizations are encouraged to partner up and apply for the ongoing YouthBuild grants, particularly in the face of probably austerity and reduction in funding flows through traditional federal and state program channels. More general information on YouthBuild and grants available from HUD is at http://www.hud.gov/grants/index.cfm