August 14, 2004 – Labor Commissioner Cecil R. Benjamin announced recently that the agency has received $263,925 to fund the Jobs for Virgin Islands Graduates (JOVIG) program.
According to Benjamin, the funds would not have been available without the assistance of Commission Chair Eileen R. Petersen. "The Commission has been steadfast in its pursuit of ensuring that Casino Revenue Funds are exclusively available for training at-risk and disadvantaged youth," he said.
The Casino and Resort Control Act provides that 10 percent of the Casino Revenue Funds earmarked for youth programs be used to fund job training programs. The Casino Control Commission is the administrator the funds.
According to a department press release, Petersen said she is pleased to have been a part of the effort of preparing at-risk youth to be active participants in the Virgin Islands' workforce. The Commission is responsible for funding half of the JOVIG program's budget and released $263,925 to the Department of Labor at the beginning of the month.
The JOVIG program is operated through a partnership with the V.I. Departments of Labor, Education and the Casino Control Commission.

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