By CARLOS AVILA
Trentonian Staff -

    Isles Inc. and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith are teaming-up to help inner-city youth further their education. Smith (NJ-04) has helped Isles’ YouthBuild Institute secure a federal grant totaling $1,099,643. 

    The money from the grant will help provide educational, vocational, and leadership skill training for at-risk youths over a 40-month period. The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

     To make the program more effective, Isles will partner with the College of New Jersey, Mercer County Community College, the Trenton Board of Education, Habitat for Humanity, the Mercer County Workforce Investment Board, and many other nonprofit organizations.

    “The Isles YouthBuild Institute will be providing a cutting-edge curriculum for students who have dropped out of mainstream education,” said Smith.

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    According to Smith’s office, the congressman asked Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates of the Labor Department’s Employment Training Administration to fund the grant. The students will also be provided with extensive job readiness and placement training.

    Martin Johnson, president and CEO of Isles, was happy about the positive impact the grant will have in the Trenton community.

    “Trenton students will receive academic training either GED or HS diploma, vocational training, job readiness and placed in jobs,” said Johnson.

Originally published at:

 http://www.trentonian.com/article/20130627/NEWS01/130629673/isles-inc--rep-smith-earn-grant-for-youth-education