The U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced on August 24 that Chinatown Manpower Project will begin training services funded by a $200,000 grant which is a part of the U.S. Department of Labor's $25 million National Emergency Grant given to New York City to aid dislocated workers in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. This $200,000 is separate from the $1 million grant Secretary Chao unveiled during her visit to Chinatown on Dec. 1, 2001.

"We are pleased to see that a portion of the $25 million National Emergency Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Labor is helping the residents of Chinatown," Chao said. "This money will retrain unemployed workers and help to put Chinatown's economy back on track."Chinatown Manpower Project, a service provider in New York City's Chinatown, will use the funds to offer training services to dislocated workers in the lower Manhattan community.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary's discretionary fund. A grant is awarded after a state submits a request and the grant guidelines have been met. National Emergency Grants constitute a major part of President Bush's Back-to-Work package. If passed by the Senate, the President's package will assist economic recovery by providing increased assistance to dislocated workers, including assistance with continuing private health insurance coverage.