U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced three grants in June totaling $377, 677 that will provide training and employment services to veterans in Florida, Oregon and Washington.

The grants are designed to help veterans overcome employment barriers and ease their transition into employment. Training and placement programs are developed and operated by an entity designated by the governor of each state receiving a grant.

"These grants provide support for veterans looking for good jobs," said Secretary of Labor Chao. "These men and women served their country proudly. President Bush and I are committed to ensuring that every veteran who wants a job can find one, and that no veteran is left behind."

The grantees are WorkSource / First Coast Workforce Development, Inc., of Jacksonville, FL, receiving $85,800; County of Clackamus, Marylhurst, Ore., receiving $195,609; and State of Washington, Department of Veterans Affairs, Olympia, Wash., receiving $96,268.

Targeted veterans include those recently separated, those who served in a military campaign or war, and those who sustained an injury while on active duty. Also included are veterans identified as having significant barriers to employment. In Northeast Florida, the program will focus on training women veterans for jobs as electricians in support of the area's booming construction industry.

Through the programs, veterans will have access to skills assessment, individual job counseling, labor market information, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrade and retraining, and placement services. Veterans receiving assistance under the program may also be eligible for services under other Workforce Investment Act programs that serve economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers.