A city-wide collaborative focused on helping lower-income residents build better lives has been awarded a $22,000 grant from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.

DanburyWORKs is designed to improve the lives of the 50% of Danbury city residents who live in poverty or who struggle to make ends meet. It links services across the community so households can access the tools to improve their economic situations.

Director Sandra Ferreira says the funds are crucial to launching the second phase of work, which focuses on Jobs, Education, and Training.  The first phase was focused on Trust, Language and Child Care.  Partners of the organization, including Naugatuck Valley Community College, Danbury Public School’s WERACE program, the Northeastern Workforce Development Board, and the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, will help identify ways to improve employment prospects for Danbury residents.

DanburyWORKS is supported by the Boston Federal Reserve’s Working Cities Challenge Grant.