The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that 13 states and the District of Columbia will join its National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative as "core states" for fiscal year 2025. This initiative aims to provide support to government agencies in these regions to enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The newly selected states include Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee. These selections will build on existing partnerships between the department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and various state intermediary organizations and national provider organizations involved with NEON since its inception.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams stated: “By supporting the new core states and maintaining our partnerships with national and state organizations, the NEON initiative will continue to advance policies and practices to make competitive integrated employment a reality for more disabled people.” She emphasized the goal is to increase access to jobs offering competitive wages and equal opportunities for advancement.

Five state intermediary organizations currently participating in NEON include groups like the Association of People Supporting Employment First and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. Additionally, five national provider organizations such as ACCSES and The Arc are also part of this initiative.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy has been administering NEON since its launch in 2019. Economic Systems Inc., based in Falls Church, Virginia, provides services needed to support this initiative.