Udall Announces $4.6 Million for NM Based Senior Employment Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced that the Albuquerque based National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) will receive almost $4.6 million from the Department of Labor's Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) to provide workers over the age of 55 with training and assistance to improve their employment opportunities.

"As our economy continues to recover, many workers on their way towards retirement are being forced stay competitive in the every-changing job market and have a harder time getting the training and experience they need to keep up," Udall said. "This funding will help provide them with valuable training opportunities and support a great organization that's based in New Mexico."

Dedicated to improving the wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native elders, NICOA will use SCSEP funding to provide meaningful, part-time work and training for unemployed, low-income persons over 55 by placing them in paid, subsidized community service jobs and assisting their transition to jobs in the private and public sector. NICOA is currently operating in Arizona, California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The Department of Labor awarded nearly $260 million in grant awards to national nonprofit organizations through SCSEP. Sixteen grants were given to fifteen organizations in two categories: general SCSEP funds and statutorily set-aside funds to serve Native Americans, and Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.