Community Foundation Grant Leverages 460 New Summer Jobs for New Britain Youth & Adults

New Britain, Conn. (August 11, 2010) –The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) recently awarded a $10,000 grant to expand existing local subsidized jobs and summer employment programs.  The grant helped to secure $12.5 million in Federal Recovery Act funds available through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  In New Britain alone, the program is expected to serve 460 individuals; 320 of which represent summer jobs for in-school youth, 80 jobs for out-of-school youth, and another 60 jobs for adults.  The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, People’s United Community Foundation, American Savings Foundation and CHEFA also assisted in helping secure the leveraged funds. 

“We felt strongly that this was a wise use of our limited grant dollars.  New Britain youth are definitely seeing the impact of the recession. These Federal Recovery Act Funds can help those most in need obtain meaningful summer employment. Last year we had just 120 funded jobs, but with this new funding we will see over 400 summer youth jobs created for 2010.” explains Phyllis Kindelan, Chair of the CFGNB Grants Committee.

The TANF funds will expand existing Subsidized Employment Programs which include subsidized jobs and summer employment programs.  TANF, a US financial assistance program, was developed as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 and aims to provide temporary financial assistance while helping individuals become financially independent primarily through employment opportunities.

The CT Council for Philanthropy,(CCP) secured the necessary funds which should serve 6,100 youth and adults with subsidized employment by September 30, 2010 at a total cost of $16.9 million. CCP worked with the state’s five Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) including Capitol Workforce Partners in North Central Connecticut to secure the funding commitments.

Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), Central CT’s workforce investment board, recruited non-profit or business employers to hire and train the TANF employment participants. This subsidized employment program targets TANF eligible individuals: low-income, under employed and unemployed adults, at-risk youths, and young parents negatively impacted by the recession. CWP provides the cost of the wages and benefits for a defined period of time in return for the non-profit or business employer providing supervision and on-the-job training. 

About The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.  It does this by raising resources and developing partnerships that make a measurable improvement in the quality of life in each of these communities. 

For more information on the CFGNB grant contact:  Joeline Wruck, Director of Program, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, 860.229.6018 x 307, jwruck@cfgnb.org

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