Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) today heralded the announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services that $1 million in Recovery Act funds will be granted to Empower New Haven (ENH), a non-profit organization formed in 1999. Since 1999, Empower has managed more than $30 million in active contracts with some 150 non-profits, business, and governmental partners. Empower has 18 active programs in the areas of workforce development, housing and homeownership, business development, and at-risk youth which are administered both in-house and/or in conjunction with partner institutions.

“Empower New Haven has been helping New Haven’s low-income citizens find grants, obtain home ownership loans, and develop small businesses for ten years now,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “This timely grant will help them continue their important work in the New Haven neighborhoods most affected by the recent economic downturn.”

Empower New Haven’s Non Profit Academy (“The Academy”), established in 2004, has served over 90 not for profit organizations, invested over $1million dollars in capacity building grants, and provided training and technical assistance (TA) to nonprofit groups in the Greater New Haven region. These funds will continue to build the capacity of organizations through class based training, 1-on-1 and group TA, and financial assistance. The focus of the work will be on those organizations addressing the broad economic recovery issues present in the cities of New Haven, Hamden and West Haven, targeting, the Empowerment Zone neighborhoods. These issues include helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits, including ARRA benefits.

“As a result of increasing the proficiency of groups providing Workforce Development, Asset Building and Income Support programs, more New Haven residents will work, obtain stable incomes, build assets, and have a future with economic opportunities”, said Empower New Haven’s President/CEO, Althea Marshall Richardson. “We will be making a direct investment of $600,000 to build the capacity of these organizations at a critical time when non profits are challenged to meet the needs of a growing population of families in transition”, she stated. In addition, “we are excited about our partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation who has committed $100,000 towards this work. The Casey Foundation’s commitment to this work has been unwavering”, she continued.

The $1 million grant comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Strengthening Communities Fund.