Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $2.3 million for programs that help low-income residents take steps to secure gainful employment and improve their quality of life.

The Community Services Block Grants will enable 20 Community Action Agencies throughout the state to help low-income residents achieve self-sufficiency and address barriers to success through a variety of programs and services. The specific needs of the communities served determine which programs are available, which can include job search assistance and short-term employment skills classes, parenting classes, transitional housing, summer youth programs, financial literacy programs and emergency food and shelter.

“Community Action Agencies provide important services help to low-income residents as they work to create a more stable foundation for a successful life,” Ivey said. “I commend these agencies for their goal of reducing and eliminating poverty by helping families in need, and I am pleased that these grant funds will support projects and programs to help reach that goal.”

Residents seeking assistance should contact their local community action agency. Full contact information for each agency can be found at www.caaalabama.org/agency-list.php

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alabama’s Community Action Agencies recently scored in the top 25 percent of all community action agencies in the United States, according to a recent study to measure customer satisfaction for the Community Services Block Grant program.

“Gov. Ivey is committed to assisting some of Alabama’s most vulnerable citizens through the Community Services Block Grant program,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA’s partnership with these agencies over the years has helped many individuals and families achieve better stability and create more opportunities for success.”

Among the agencies awarded grants is the Organized Community Action Program Inc. (Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Lowndes, Pike), for a total of $108,330.