The Department of Labor is making available a $75 million grant to fund YouthBuild, which creates programs to help out-of-school youths finish high school or General Educational Development programs as well as develop occupational skills in industries such as construction, health care and information technology.

"The YouthBuild programs open doors for thousands of at-risk youths in at least two ways," says Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "They are provided with an opportunity to develop job skills for successful careers, and they learn the importance of leadership and making contributions to strengthen communities."

With this grants, the DOL expects to help more than 5,200 young people through 75 grants. These grants are projected to range from $700,000 to $1.1 million each, and they are to be distributed to organizations that oversee education and employment services for disadvantaged youths in their communities.