Organization location: harrisburg, PA 17121POC name: jennifer reamspoc

The Department of Labor & Industry Pa, through a $3,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration's Reentry Employment Opportunities program (CFDA 17.270), will expand its existing PROWD (Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development) program to provide job club, navigation, and peer mentoring services to help formerly incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania secure sustainable, high-quality employment and reduce recidivism.

The project will establish three key positions - a Project Manager, Education Program Managers, and Service Navigators - to coordinate program activities and provide comprehensive pre- and post-release support services at minimum and low-security federal prisons across Pennsylvania. Key initiatives include an essential skills training curriculum, job club networking, and peer mentoring to address participants' employment barriers and transition needs. The project aims to reduce recidivism below the state average of 62% and achieve at least 50% employment rates among participants in the 2nd and 4th quarters after program completion.

Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies has received a $864,000 sub-grant under this Cooperative Agreement to support the PROWD program's employment and reentry services for returning citizens.