Sen. Dick Durbin has announced that Illinois organizations supporting at-risk youth will benefit from a $3.3 million U.S. Department of Labor grant.

The department's YouthBuild program will provide money to several groups that help the state's at-risk youth strengthen academic and occupational skills through training programs.

Durbin says the funding will be split equally between the Emerson Park Development Corporation in East St. Louis, the United Methodist Children's Home in Mount Vernon and YouthBuild McLean County in Normal.

The federal YouthBuild program helps young people receive their diplomas or GEDs and prepares them for post-secondary education and employment. The program awards community-based grants to ensure resources are provided to youth that need them the most, including kids who dropped out of high school or are aging out of foster care.