Employment Security awards funds to Pierce County schools and communities - September 27, 2007

07-074

Media contacts: Caitlin Cormier, 360-902-9215
Terri Barbee, 360-438-4145

Audio: http://fortress.wa.gov/esd/portal/info/newsroom/audiofiles/audio/

OLYMPIA – The state Employment Security Department has awarded grants worth nearly $400,000 to four public-service programs that operate in Pierce County.

Northwest Leadership Foundation received $74,000 to support three sites that work together to decrease expulsions, long-term suspensions and truancy in Tacoma schools. 

The Tacoma Housing Authority was awarded $58,000 to assist students and adults with disabilities, coordinate day camps, mentor and tutor youths, and help the community create a disaster-preparedness plan. 

A grant of $60,000 was given to Earth Corps, which serves Island, King, Pierce and Snohomish counties with environmental-restoration projects in partnership with community groups, government agencies, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Also, a grant of $175,000 was given to Community Youth Services, which serves Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Thurston counties.  The money will be used to support Washington Reading Corps efforts to tutor students in public schools. 

The funding comes from the federal AmeriCorps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) programs.  Employment Security distributes the money to local communities to cover operating costs and provide stipends to Washington Service Corps members, who will spend 10½ months working on public-service projects, such as tutoring students, building affordable housing, improving emergency readiness, and rehabilitating streams and trails. 

Nearly $2 million is being distributed to school districts, counties, learning centers, housing authorities and non-profit groups in 23 of Washington’s 39 counties across the state to provide an array of educational, human and public-improvement services from September 2007 through August 2008.  

“The grants make it possible for our Service Corps members and the groups they work with to do a lot of good in schools and neighborhoods around the state,” said Karen Lee, commissioner of the Employment Security Department. “These programs have a lasting and enriching effect on the people who participate.” 

Created by the state legislature in 1983 and administered by the Employment Security Department, the Washington Service Corps engages the talents, energy and enthusiasm of civically minded adults, aged 17 and up, in serving their communities.  

For more information about Washington Service Corps programs and the teams that received the grants, visit http://www.wa.gov/esd/wsc/ and look on the left side of the page.