EVENT: U.S. Department of Labor Official Award Presentation for Project ACCESS
DATE: Thursday, October 21, 2004
TIME: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Petersburg One Stop Career Center
3251 3rd Avenue N., Suite 150 - St. Petersburg, FL 33713
CONTACT: Jacqueline Skryd, Marketing Coordinator, (727) 507-4300 ext. 3033

ABOUT THE EVENT:
The Department of Labor's Deputy Secretary, Steven J. Law, will be in town on Thursday, October 21, 2004 to officially announce WorkNet Pinellas as the 2004 recipient of the Employment & Training Administration and Center for Faith Based and Community Organizations Initiatives faith based grant award. WorkNet's Project ACCESS (Advancing Community Cooperation to Employ & Strengthen Skills) has been selected for its innovative program design that will build long-term partnerships with faith-based and community organizations and address unmet employment needs of hard-to-serve individuals in Pinellas County. WorkNet Pinellas applied for the grant in partnership with Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc. (CCDOSP), to assist 200 low-income working individuals, ex-offenders and individuals with limited English proficiency, to obtain jobs or advance employment within the county. The program will provide life-skills, career-laddering and on-the-job training opportunities, case management, job placement and retention for the individuals involved.

WorkNet has collaborated with Bright House Networks, Morton Plant Hospital, and Bayfront Medical Center to offer employment opportunities for qualified participants towards targeted critical occupations in Pinellas County, representing the healthcare, customer service, retail and food preparation and service industries.