The US Department of Labor today awarded nearly$65.5 millionin grants to 40 states,Puerto Ricoand theDistrict of Columbiato implement and/or continue re-employment and eligibility assessments for Unemployment Insurance beneficiaries. Vermont is getting$234,239.
"Today's grant announcement will allow states to provide personalized assessments for recipients of Unemployment Insurance to help them get back on their feet faster," said Labor SecretaryHilda L Solis.
The funds will be used to conduct in-person assessments in One-Stop Career Centers. The assessments include the development of a re-employment plan for claimants, the provision of labor market information that is appropriate to the claimants' locations and employment prospects, a complete review of claimants' eligibility for Unemployment Insurance benefits, and a referral to re-employment services and/or training provided by the One-Stop Career Centers separate that is from the UI program.
This is the eighth year that the Labor Department has awarded grants through its Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment initiative. Recent evaluations of REA programs have shown that REAs reduce the number of weeks UI benefits are claimed by expediting the re-employment of the UI claimants. This evidence justifies expanding the use of REAs as provided for in the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which is authorized by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
"These grants allow us to bring UI beneficiaries into the One-Stop Career Center where they are introduced to all of the re-employment services that are available. REA participants get the best available help needed to find good jobs," saidJane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training.
Two new states,PennsylvaniaandWyoming, are receiving grants to implement REA programs, while 38 states plusPuerto Ricoand theDistrict of Columbiaare being awarded additional funds to continue their programs.Montanadid not request a new grant this year but will continue to operate its program using funds from a prior year.
Information about the positive impact and effectiveness of REAs can be found in a report by Impaq International LLC athttp://s.dol.gov/RK. Read more about REAs in a Labor Department blog post athttp://s.dol.gov/RL.
Editor's note:A chart listing the states receiving awards and grant amounts follows this release.
Re-employment Eligibility and Assessment Grants
STATE
AMOUNT
Arizona
$596,326
California
$3,084,591
District Of Columbia
$485,732
Florida
$5,858,201
Hawaii
$703,100
Idaho
$529,462
Illinois
$710,753
Indiana
$826,000
Iowa
$1,168,661
Kansas
$722,731
Kentucky
$299,386
Louisiana
$2,954,581
Maine
$1,017,331
Maryland
$1,330,625
Massachusetts
$4,557,148
Minnesota
$1,633,482
Mississippi
$929,466
Missouri
$339,343
Nebraska
$451,044
Nevada
$1,108,543
New Hampshire
$988,402
New Jersey
$770,465
New Mexico
$80,812
New York
$10,330,750
North Carolina
$2,649,379
North Dakota
$367,720
Ohio
$4,395,888
Oklahoma
$671,828
Oregon
$2,991,915
Pennsylvania
$501,685
Puerto Rico
$564,815
Rhode Island
$542,346
South Carolina
$1,626,882
South Dakota
$373,424
Tennessee
$2,845,633
Utah
$1,259,136
Vermont
$234,239
Virginia
$990,721
Washington
$2,640,229
West Virginia
$78,406
Wisconsin
$885,326
Wyoming
$379,007
TOTAL
$65,475,514
WASHINGTON,May 7, 2012/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --