(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded $7.5 million in federal funding to the Louisiana Workforce Commission to assist workers affected by multiple company closures and layoffs in (Region 7) Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, De Soto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, Lincoln and Webster parishes.  The funding will also be used to assist workers displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in (Region 1) St. Bernard, St Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes.
            “I just got off the phone with Department of Labor Secretary Chao who informed me of the news,” said Vitter.  “Many hard working Louisianans want to contribute to the marketplace but need assistance to overcome the impacts of the storms and major shifts in local economies.  This federal funding will go a long way toward helping residents in these affected parishes.”
            The Department of Labor announced that all covered workers will have access to the full array of dislocated worker services and additional services including assessment, counseling, case management, job search, job placement and follow-up services.