Mayor Martin O'Malley announced in West Baltimore today the awarding of a major federal grant to the City. At an 11 a.m. press conference at the West EZ Youth Opportunity Community Center (YO Center), at 1510 West Lafayette Ave., Mayor O'Malley announced that Baltimore will receive $44 million in federal funds to address unemployment among out-of-school and at-risk youth.

With a backdrop of neighborhood youths from the YO Center, the FUTURES Program and the Youth Career Academy, Mayor O'Malley spoke of the importance of the grant.

"In order for Baltimore to maintain a strong economy in the next millennium and beyond, we must have a well-trained and technologically-advanced workforce. That trained workforce will fill jobs, stabilize companies and allow folks to enjoy quality lifestyles," said Mayor O'Malley. "The Youth Opportunity grant will help turn disadvantages into opportunities and shortcomings into strengths."

Baltimore is one of 36 communities that will receive portions of a total $223 million in grant money being awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The City will receive $44 million in federal funds over the next five years, starting with an $11 million award this year.

President Bill Clinton initially revealed the grant awards provided by the U.S. Department of Labor during his Feb. 19 radio broadcast. The President recognized Baltimoreans Mike Dupree and Jacqueline Sharp Massey of the Career Academy.

Ms. Massey has worked over the last 20 years to help hundreds of youths turn their lives around. Through the academy, 20-year-old Dupree has transformed himself from a high school dropout to a biotechnology lab assistant.

The initial Youth Opportunity grant will be used to serve 2,400 Baltimore youths in the first year and an estimated 10,000 over the next five years. The Youth Opportunity Career Center was established through a $2.2 million grant and was designed to help young people living in the West Empowerment Zone, located in Lafayette and Harlem Park. The Youth Opportunity grant will help expand services provided through the pilot program.

Services it will provide include:

• Computer training
• Pre-GED and GED preparation
• Mentoring
• Tutoring
• Career counseling
• College preparations and linkages
• Job shadowing and internships
• Leadership training
• Skills training
• Community Service Corps
• Life Skills, Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills
• Cultural Enrichment Activities
• Intramural Athletics and Recreation
• Health Services (mental and physical)
• Child Care and Housing Assistance
• Teen Parenting Training
• Job Search Assistance

Two full-scale Youth Opportunity Community Centers will be supported by four satellite centers. While the Baltimore Office of Employment Development is the grant recipient, all centers will be operated by community and non-profit organizations.

The Youth Opportunity Centers will receive assistance from Safe and Sound, The Business Roundtable for Education, the Greater Baltimore Committee, Baltimore Development Corporation, the Youth Council of the Baltimore City Workforce Investment Board, Johns Hopkins, Mercy Hospital and Sinai Hospital.

One full-time center will be located at 1510 Lafayette Ave. and another will be located at 1200 N. Wolfe St., at the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition site. Two satellite offices will open in East Baltimore at 301 N. Gay St and 232 N. Broadway. Two additional satellite sites will be located in West Baltimore at 2120 W. North Ave. and 906 Washington Blvd.

For more information please contact Tony White or Rick Binetti at the numbers listed above