ETA News Release: [July 1, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-3984
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces
National Emergency Grant to Aid Iowa Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a National Emergency Grant of $376,722 to assist approximately 60 workers dislocated from the MCI Conferencing Center in Davenport, Iowa.
"The unemployment rate in Iowa is well below the national average at 4.3 percent, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This is good news, but the President and I want to be sure that no worker is left behind. This grant will provide re-employment assistance to help these workers as they prepare for new opportunities."
Awarded to the Iowa Workforce Development State Dislocated Worker Unit, the grant will benefit workers in Scott, Clinton, Muscatine and Jackson Counties in Iowa, as well as workers in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer Counties in Illinois.
The grant will provide an array of transition assistance services including job development and placement, occupational skills training, vocational training, GED preparation and remedial skills upgrading.
Supportive services including childcare, transportation assistance, job-related certifications, uniforms, equipment and needs-related payments will also be available.
National Emergency Grants are part of the Secretary's discretionary fund. A grant is awarded after a state submits a request and the grant guidelines have been met.
For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.
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