Legacy pg2

1973

Operation Breakthrough, Inc. received a Grantee Performance Award from OEO primarily to establish a $50,000 cannery as well as a $28,000 Manpower Development grant for operations sponsored by the City of Durham. Total funding for the agency was $2,704,387.

1974

In December 1972, President Nixon had announced the phase-out of OEO and all federal funding sources. As a result, the agency lost a large number of staffers during this period. Total funding for the agency was $2,256,824.

1975

During the 1974-75 fiscal year, Congress passed new legislation allowing local municipalities the first right of sponsorship of labor programs. During these these two years, OBT lost both the New Careers and Neighborhood Corps programs and one million dollars of funding. Total funding for the agency was $1,642,282.

1976

Decline of federal funding was very obvious with the loss of major programs. Total funding for the agency was $1,541,700.

1977

During the 1976-77 period, OEO became the Community Service Administration (CSA). During this year, OBT picked up the Nutrition Program which aided funding shortfalls. OBT received a special Crisis Intervention Program and began to receive Department of Energy funds as early as 1976. Total funding for the agency was $1,801,521.

1978

As OBT continued in its quest to alleviate poverty and educate the community, new programs were added to the already existing ones. CETA became available, continuing the mission of obtaining work for the unemployed. OBT and the Athletic Department of North Carolina Central University collaborated to operate the National Youth Sport Program (NYSP). Total agency funding for the year was $1,818,578.

1979-80

During this period, staff and programs offered were reduced due to the lack of funds to compensate for inflation and rising costs. However, the programs still maintained a high level of service with minor interruption for clients. Total funding for 1979 was $3,368,196 and $2,277,130 for 1980.

1981

These funds made it possible to continue much needed services to Durham County residents. With the demise of CSA in September of 1981, it was necessary to reduce the staff again and the agency lost about 25 positions. Numerous delegate agency relationships within the community were established with the City of Durham, Employment Security Commission, and Durham Housing Authority. Total funding for the agency was $2,467,047.

1982

Following the phase-out of CSA, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) came into being. The programs operated by the agency with the CSBG that year included Employment Skills, Housing, Youth Tutoring, Consumer Education, and Crisis Intervention. The agency also continued to maintain its grants with Health and Human Services (HHS) to operate the Head Start Program and Department of Energy to run the Weatherization Program. The Cannery, operating since summer of 1972, was phased out in the fall of 1981. Total funding for the agency was $1,547,631.

1983

A new service directed toward matching unemployed persons with short-term odd job situations was initiated. This service was called Transient Employment. The Temporary Housing Emergency Shelter was opened in 1983. GED/ABE preparation was offered in conjunction with Durham Technical Institute and the Housing Authority. Total funding for the agency was $1,839,823.

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Operation Breakthrough, Inc.

serving Durham, NC since 1964