Secretary Bump Announces Funding for Ex-Offender Reentry Planning Grants

Friday, June 5^th, 2009---Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump today announced the award of three Ex-Offender Re-entry Partnership Planning grants totaling $150,000 to assess the need for reentry programming in education, training, employment, and support services for ex-offenders. The Berkshire County Employment Board, Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board, and the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board each received grants of $50,000.

The regional partnerships that receive the funds help ex-offenders achieve successful re-entry into communities, and provides both preventative public safety measures and an economic boost to the regions.

“This initiative builds models that will assist these individuals in acquiring the skills they need as they transition back to their communities and rejoin the workforce,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump. “And ultimately these programs will help people contribute to the economic success of their families, their communities, and the Commonwealth.”

This initiative is one of the recommendations of Governor Patrick’s Interagency Task Force on Pre and Post Release programming, chaired by Secretary Suzanne M. Bump and convened by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. A report of this Task Force, which provides an overview of existing education, training, supportive and employment services for ex-offenders is available at http://www.mass.gov/eolwd.