U.S. Department of Labor Awards Goodwill(R) $7.3 Million for Green Jobs

Goodwill to Train People With Disadvantaging Conditions to Work in Energy Efficient Industries

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced today that Goodwill Industries International will receive a $7.3 million grant as part of "Pathways Out of Poverty," a funding opportunity authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The grant will provide funds to create green job training programs as a strategy to move individuals out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency. The funding is part of a $150 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to 38 entities.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090716/DC47803LOGO)

"Goodwill has a history of providing job training and placement services to people with disadvantages and disabilities," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "The funding from the U.S. Department of Labor will enable us to provide pre-employment training, occupational skills training and intensive individual assessment for our job seekers so that they can obtain and retain well-paying jobs in the rapidly growing green industry of their choice."

Goodwill Industries International will divide the funds among six Goodwill agencies that have established partnerships with local business, labor organizations, workforce development institutions, unions, faith- and community-based organizations, and colleges and trade schools to help Goodwill's green job seekers advance.

The six Goodwills include Goodwill of North Georgia (Atlanta), Goodwill Industries of Central Texas (Austin), Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont (Charlotte, N.C.), Goodwill Industries of Central Arizona (Phoenix), Goodwill of Greater Washington (D.C.), and Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids (MI). Their focus will be on training people in a variety of green industry-related jobs, including Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy industries of energy-efficient building construction and retrofit, renewable electric power, and energy efficiency assessment.

For more than 100 years, Goodwill and its national affiliates have worked with consumers and communities to reduce, reuse and recycle. The organization's commitment to going green is demonstrated by its Going Green Initiative, which includes a long-standing national electronics recycling program with Dell; a partnership with ENERGY STAR; and LEED certification of five member Goodwill headquarter agencies; as well as a focus on green jobs.

For a full listing of the grants and project descriptions, visit www.doleta.gov/pdf/Pathways_Poverty_grants.pdfhttp://www.doleta.gov/. To view a video by Secretary Solis, visit www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/pathways.

To find your local Goodwill, visit www.goodwill.org or call (800) 664-6577.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 183 community-based, independent agencies in the United States, Canada, and 13 other countries. One of the nation's top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands as well as a leading social services enterprise, Goodwill generates opportunities for people to achieve economic stability and build strong families and vibrant communities by offering job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges. To pay for its programs, Goodwill sells donated clothes and other household items in more than 2,300 retail stores and online at shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation and document imaging and shredding. More than 1.5 million people in the United States and Canada have benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find your local Goodwill, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org or call (800) 664-6577.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International