ORLANDO, Fla.-U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a $2.76 million grant to help at-risk Hispanic youth in Orlando and four other cities across the country.

"Today I am pleased to announce a $2.76 million grant to Esperanza USA to help at-risk Hispanic youths get training to find good-paying jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "Esperanza USA will partner with faith-based and community groups here in Orlando and other cities across the country and provide access to training and employment services to help these young people build job skills."

The grant will provide education and training services to Hispanic youth already involved with the criminal justice system or at-risk of involvement. The funds will serve 600 youth, 120 in each of five locations-Orlando, Miami, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.

Esperanza USA will use the grant to build a network of faith-based and community organizations, the local public workforce investment system, the juvenile justice system and the business community. The network will ensure that targeted Hispanic youth receive education, workforce development and supportive services that lead to productive lives. The funds will also be used to enhance the capacity of faith-based and community organizations to continue to meet the career needs of at-risk and adjudicated Hispanic youth.

Secretary Chao also noted that the job prospects for Hispanic youth in Florida are strong. With a new state unemployment rate of 4.7 percent released this week, Florida is well under the national unemployment average. This week's new number also represents a significant improvement over the state unemployment rate of 5.3 percent a year ago.

"These positive employment statistics are proof that the President's pro-growth economic policies are working and helping people to find good jobs in Florida and across the country," Secretary Chao said. "The key to getting a good job is to help Hispanic young people get the training and employment services they need."

In addition to today's grant to help at-risk Hispanic youth, the U.S. Labor Department earlier this year inaugurated a new Hispanic Worker Initiative. Currently, the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration is funding unique, industry-driven demonstration projects through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. These include Hispanic workers in their overall service strategy. The department will continue to explore more innovative projects that address the identified workforce challenges of Hispanic Americans.