User:Lbellows/PathwaysOutofPoverty

History
Pathways Out of Poverty (POP) is a program that was established on August 14, 2009 and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Roughly $150 million is authorized by the ARRA and is granted in amounts from $2-$8 million to both national and local entities for the provision of training and placement services in order “to provide pathways out of poverty and into employment.” The Department of Labor particularly encouraged applicants to focus on serving Public Micro Data Areas (PUMAs) with poverty rates of 15 percent or higher.

Pathways Out of Poverty is part of the “fourth wave” of economic development, which stipulates an environmentally-sustainable approach. A principal condition of POP is the training for “employment within energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.” Additionally, many of the grantees targeted low income individuals, veterans, at-risk youth, high school dropouts, the unemployed and underemployed, ex-criminals, and non-English speakers.

Grantees
A total of 38 organizations have been awarded POP grants. The 38 grantees for Pathways Out of Poverty (POP) consist of two types: (1) national non-profits that are connected with local organizations; and (2) local public organizations and private non-profits.