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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Latino Coalition Grant
Denver, Colorado
Friday, June 18, 2004
Thank you for that kind introduction, Scott [Flores, Owner, Die Cut
Technologies]. And thank you for the work you do here at Die Cut
Technologies that helps so many workers in the Denver area. You are an
example of an employer who gives second chances to some of the people who
need them most.
I'm glad to see Jim Ortiz, Chairman of the Latino Coalition; Greg Lopez,
President of the Denver Hispanic Chamber; Gene Sanchez, President of the
Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber; and Sampson Barrios.
Today, I am here in Denver to announce a $2 million grant to the Latino
Coalition to help at-risk Hispanic youth and other Hispanic young people
who've had trouble in their lives train for and find jobs. In this effort,
the Latino Coalition will partner with faith-based and community groups here
in Denver and other cities across the country.
This Administration is committed to helping at-risk Hispanic youth get the
tools they need to successfully pursue job opportunities in the growing economy.
The grant we are announcing today will help provide tutoring, paid work experience,
leadership development opportunities, adult mentoring and summer employment
opportunities for 1,000 Hispanic youth in 4 states over the next year. This
grant is the first of its kind to create career opportunities for the most
needy Hispanic youth in partnership with faith-based and community organizations.
This is crucial because Hispanic Americans are among the fastest growing
groups within our workforce. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects
that the labor force for Hispanics will grow by more than 25 percent between
now and 2012. And it is projected that Hispanics will comprise 14.7 percent
of the labor force in 2012.
In many of our communities, there is no one closer to the heart and soul
of those who need a little extra help—a second chance—than faith-based and
community organizations like the Latino Coalition and its partners.
Through this grant, Hispanic young people will acquire the skills and services
they need to get a fresh start building careers and brighter futures. And
this will equip these young people to take advantage of the growing opportunities
in America's strengthening economy.
In fact, as today's job numbers show, opportunity is thriving in Colorado.
May's unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent and is again well below the
national average. And, Colorado added 1,600 jobs in May across a broad spectrum
of industries including professional and business services and finance.
Nationally, we've seen 9 straight months of job growth, producing 1.4 million
new jobs since last August. The unemployment rate remains at 5.6 percent,
which is lower than the national average in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. And
the number of long-term unemployed and the median duration of unemployment
have both fallen.
These positive employment statistics are proof that the President's policies
are working and helping people find good jobs in Colorado and across the
country. These job figures and other recent data show that America's economy
is strong and getting stronger.
And that makes it critical that workers—including Hispanic young people—have
access to training and employment services to help them advance within the
workforce.
Now, I'd like to present this check for $2 million to Jim Ortiz and the
Latino Coalition.
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