Press Releases

SEATTLE – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today visited the Seattle YWCA, a recipient of part of the $22 million job-training pilot program she helped secure for Washington state. DelBene met with participants who could benefit from the pilot program.

“Helping people find good-paying, long-term employment in a high-demand industry is the best way to ensure everyone has access to economic opportunities,” DelBene said. “These funds will help those on nutrition assistance become self-sufficient by giving them the specialized training and education needed to increase their earning potential. What’s more, this pilot will help reduce future federal spending, while also reducing hunger and unemployment in our state.”

As a member of the Agriculture Committee, DelBene helped shepherd a five-year Farm Bill to final passage last year by serving on the conference committee. Using criteria from Washington’s successful Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program, the Congresswoman was able to include $200 million for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) competitive grant pilot programs to expand job-training opportunities for recipients of federal nutrition assistance in 10 states over three years.

In addition to Washington, projects in California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Virginia and Vermont were chosen.

“It’s important to remember that these investments we make not only have an incredible effect on our economy, but also on people’s lives,” DelBene said. “This is a prime example of how investing a little money in a targeted way can save the government money in the long run.”

On Monday, DelBene met YWCA members who will benefit from the pilot program. The YWCA has been awarded $250,000 a year for the next three years through the job-training program, which Washington is calling Resources to Initiate Successful Employment (RISE).

“This program was wonderful for me. I had been out of work for over four years,” Danielle Dickerson said. “I had no childcare for my children, no recent job or schooling, no bus fare and after I entered the program I was able to get my training paid, childcare, bus tickets, interview clothes and assistants with registration and test fees to become a Home Care Aide after I finished my training.”

The YWCA RISE program will help participants develop workplace skills, remove employment barriers and help achieve self-sufficiency through job placement.

“RISE will help the YWCA carry out our mission to increase economic opportunities for people like Danielle,” said Sue Sherbrooke, CEO of YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. “We applaud Congresswoman DelBene and her colleagues in Congress for investing in services that will make it possible for us to lift more people out of poverty, leading to a stronger workforce and a stronger community.”

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