Rep. Payne, Jr. Announces $3 Million Grant for Bloomfield College

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. announced today that Bloomfield College received a five-year, $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will help the college recruit African-American men to become students as well as help them stay in school and graduate. It was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education Grants for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI). Bloomfield College is a PBI located in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

"This grant is great news for Bloomfield College and the district," said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. "Bloomfield College does an exceptional job educating African-American students to prepare them for high-paying jobs in the future. But studies have shown that we are not getting enough African-American males to attend college and get degrees. This grant will help the school get more of these students into college, encourage them to stay and graduate, and give them a top-notch education so they can have fulfilling careers."

The grant will be used to fund Bloomfield College's Coaching Habits for African-American Male Students to Promote Success (CHAMPS) program. This program increases the retention and graduation rates of African-American men who attend the school. In addition, the funding will support a variety of programs and activities to help students succeed, such as academic coaching, peer and online tutoring, and leadership workshops.

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