This Funding Will Make Technical & Accessibility Improvements to the American Job Center in Fredericksburg

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Biden on Saturday signed into law U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that will provide $200,000 for improvements to the American Job Center in Fredericksburg. The American Job Center provides employment resources to job seekers in the Fredericksburg region to increase access to the job market and lower barriers to employment.

This investment — which Spanberger secured as part of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate-passed fiscal year (FY)2024 appropriations package — will allow the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board to modernize the American Job Center in Fredericksburg and bring the facility up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This investment will help build a more accessible and conducive environment for employment services and job placements by outfitting the lobby, resource room, and conference room with ADA-compliant workstations and necessary infrastructure improvements, including furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. These enhancements will enable the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board to provide high-speed internet access for both job seekers and staff, as well as address labor challenges faced by employers and job seekers.

“The Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board extends our deepest appreciation to Representative Spanberger for her instrumental role in securing this federal funding,” said Jackie Davis, Executive Director, Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board. “This investment will not only enhance the accessibility and infrastructure of the American Job Center located in Fredericksburg but will also serve as a catalyst for connecting Virginians to employment opportunities. By providing equal access to employment services and resources, we are enabling individuals to reach their true potential and contribute to the economic vitality of our community.”

“Supporting our workforce and connecting Virginians with skilled jobs are smart investments in our communities. I’m grateful to the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board for sharing these values and working directly with my office to successfully secure the funding necessary to make much-needed improvements to the American Job Center in Fredericksburg,” said Spanberger. “These federal dollars will help further the Center’s track record of success in lowering barriers to employment and securing job placements for Virginians across the Fredericksburg-region. I’m proud that these federal dollars are being delivered to help Virginians jump-start their careers.”

BACKGROUND

For FY2024, the U.S. House of Representatives allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — as it did in FY2023. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in localities across Virginia’s Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for the full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress — in concert with the communities they represent — may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process.

To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications needed to demonstrate significant local support for the projects.

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