NEWS ARTICLES | March 11, 2009

Landrieu secures employment funding

By Gazette News Services  |  The Gazette  |  Link to article

United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., announced Tuesday morning that Louisiana will receive more than $43 million for Department of Labor-administered employment and training programs funded from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“On the heels of Pilgrim Pride’s Farmerville plant in closing Union Parish and International Paper’s November 2008 decision to shut its doors in Bastrop, this funding will be essential to thousands of Louisianians,” Sen. Landrieu said. “While our unemployment rate is still below the national average, more than 3,000 jobs have been lost in Louisiana as a result of the closings and layoffs at Pilgrim Pride, International Paper and other plants across our state. These federal dollars will help put Louisianians back to work.”

Last month, Sen. Landrieu announced that the Department of Labor granted $500,000 to help the 275 Louisiana workers who lost their jobs when the Bastrop International Paper Mill closed. In December, Sen. Landrieu and U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander, R-La., had sent a letter to then-Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao requesting this National Emergency Grant.

Also last month, Sen. Landrieu announced that the Labor Department granted Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to International Paper workers. Sen. Landrieu had also sent Secretary Chao a letter requesting that TAA be granted.

In today’s announcement, Louisiana will receive:

$8,703,290 for Adult Training Activities and $9,258,530 for Dislocated Worker Activities: Most services for adult and dislocated workers will be provided through the national network of One-Stop Career Centers, which offer career counseling, information on available jobs, skills assessment, job search assistance, training and other services to dislocated workers.

$20,012,271 for Youth Training Activities authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Eligible youth will receive preparation for educational opportunities or employment.Youth training funds will contribute to tutoring, study skills training, and instruction intended to help students completing high school. Programs also include alternative school services, adult mentoring, paid and unpaid work experience, occupational skills training, leadership development, and appropriate support services.

$5,191,488 for the Employment Service authorized by the Wagner-Peyser Act. The Employment Service provides job search assistance, job referral, placement assistance for job seekers, reemployment services to unemployment insurance claimants, and recruitment services to employers with job openings.