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Two Northeast Florida Nonprofits Receive $2M In Federal Grants To Help Find Work For Ex-offenders

Two First Coast organizations received federal grants Thursday to help them find jobs for people getting out of jail or prison.

First Coast Workforce Development in Fleming Island received more than $1 million to support its work with juvenile offenders.

And Jacksonville’s Operation New Hope is getting more than $1.1 million for its efforts to help adult ex-offenders.

U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez says the grants reflect President Barack Obama’s belief in what’s called “restorative justice.”

“These grants are all about giving second chances to people because the president believes in second chances,” Perez said. “The president believes that everyone is gifted and talented and that it’s our duty as a nation to bring out those gifts and talents.”

The Jacksonville-area grants are two of about 30 awarded nationwide.

Perez says the Labor Department has been supporting job programs for ex-offenders for the past 3 years.

Jessica Palombo oversees local news at WJCT News 89.9 and Jacksonville Today. With a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse University and bachelor's in journalism from the University of Florida, Jessica is a nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville. You may have once seen her on a local community theater stage. These days, you can most likely catch her reading a book in a school pickup line.