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ETA News Release: [06/14/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984

U.S Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $2.6 Million in Grants to Aid Dislocated Arkansas Workers

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced three National Emergency Grants totaling $2,618,793 to aid dislocated workers in Arkansas. The grants, awarded to the Arkansas Employment Security Department, will provide assistance to approximately 560 individuals laid off from two companies, Southwest Airlines Reservation Center and Ozark Aircraft Systems, as well as workers dislocated as a result of recent flooding in Arkansas.

“The unemployment rate in Arkansas has dropped from 6.1 to 5.6 percent over the last year,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This is good news, but we want to be sure that no worker is left behind. This $2.6 million in funding will prepare workers who still need help for good jobs as the employment outlook in the state continues to improve.”

A grant, of $1.6 million, serving approximately 400 workers from Faulkner, Little Rock, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline Counties, will provide assistance to individuals laid off from the Southwest Airlines Reservation Center in Little Rock. A second grant of $400,000 will provide assistance to 111 Benton and Washington County workers laid off from Ozark Aircraft Systems in Bentonville.

The final grant of up to $600,000, with an initial release of $200,000, will cover workers in Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Washington Counties dislocated as a result of recent flooding in these areas. This disaster-related grant will provide assistance to approximately 50 workers.

Services will include temporary job creation to assist in the cleanup, repair and restoration needed as a result of the severe flooding. Supportive services may include transportation, work-related equipment, emergency medical assistance and childcare.

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 go to www.doleta.gov.

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