Department of Labor awards grant to Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS)

$3.5 million awarded to Midwest Urban Strategies to support the expansion of services in three of its member areas: Wichita, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh
 

Pittsburgh— Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) and its partnering workforce development boards will receive a portion of the $64,395,062 awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor in Pathway Home grants which went to 20 recipients serving 15 states.

 “Midwest Urban Strategies is proud to lead this regional strategy to assist in the transition of justice-involved adults back to the workforce.  Our partners in Kansas City (Full Employment Council), Pittsburgh (Partner4Work) and Wichita (Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, Inc.) are all leaders in providing services to this population and each has a demonstrated track record with reconnecting returning citizens to employment,” said MUS executive director Tracey Carey.

“The regional collaboration we put together for this grant is modeled after several of our partner boards that have had success working with the American Job Center Network and their region’s correctional facilities. We are excited to illustrate how systems-oriented/outcomes and focused partnerships with the public workforce systems successfully enable returning citizens to become skilled workers and engaged citizens in our communities,” Carey continued.

 Pathway Home grants help fund reentry services to improve employment outcomes for adults involved in the criminal justice system. As part of the award, MUS partners will offer individuals a variety of services to help ease their transition back to society.

 “The funding will allow our boards to provide a whole host of services, including education and training, job preparation, legal assistance and assistance connecting to other important social services,” said Keith Lawing, CEO of the Wichita based Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas.

 “This additional funding aligns with MUS’s role of creating regional strategies for workforce development. We are pleased to bring additional support and resources to the region’s returning citizens and help them on the path to sustainable and meaningful careers,” said Earl Buford, CEO of Pittsburgh-based Partner4Work.

MUS is currently managing more than $20 million in DOL-funded programs to advance access to quality jobs. 

About Midwest Urban Strategies

Midwest Urban Strategies represents a coordinated effort on behalf of 13 Department of Labor urban workforce development boards to marry traditional workforce development practices with economic development. Through intentional collaboration, leveraging stakeholders and efficient and creative use of resources, our strategy is to retain and grow local talent and generate a greater return on investment for our employer partners and the workforce system. For more information visit us online at midwesturbanstrategies.com or follow us on Twitter @midwestworkers.

About Partner4Work

Nationally recognized for innovation, Partner4Work is the workforce development organization that connects funding, expertise, and opportunities for employers, job seekers, agencies, and policymakers to develop a thriving workforce in the Pittsburgh area. As stewards of more than $25 million in public and private workforce funds, Partner4Work oversees and funds workforce programs for adults, dislocated workers and youth; educates the community through labor market analytics; and implements innovative solutions to the region’s systemic workforce challenges. More information is available at www.partner4work.org.