The U.S. Department of Labor is sending millions of dollars to states and organizations, all earmarked to improve the employment odds facing people with disabilities.

The federal agency said this month that nearly $15 million will go to six states to improve job opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities.

Funding will be targeted to enhance job training for this demographic, help young people transition into the workforce and develop strategies to assist individuals with significant disabilities find work, among other efforts, the Labor Department said.

Meanwhile, over $9 million is headed to five groups working to develop new models, offer technical assistance and establish best practices for increasing employment among this population.

“Our economy’s strength relies on a workforce that is diverse and accessible to people with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. “These grants will help better connect people with disabilities with employers that can greatly benefit from their skills and experience.”

The state funding is part of the Labor Department’s Disability Employment Initiative, which has allocated over $123 million for projects in 28 states since 2010. States receiving funding in the latest round include California, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Maryland.

Grants to organizations are going to the West Virginia University Research Corporation, the Institute for Educational Leadership, the National Disability Institute, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America as well as Onondaga Community College in New York and Pellissippi State Community College in Tennessee to operate a joint demonstration project.

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