The US Department of Labor today announced the availability of$35 millionin funds to develop, enhance and promote Self-Employment Assistance programs in all 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia,Puerto Ricoand theUS Virgin Islands. Vermont will get almost $50,000.
In addition, guidance released today clarifies that states may enroll participants who are currently receiving or eligible for federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits.
This announcement is the latest in a series of innovative reforms to the Unemployment Insurance program made possible through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which was signed by President Obama in February.
"Self-Employment Assistance has proven to be a valuable tool in helping many unemployed Americans realize the dream of business ownership," said Secretary of LaborHilda L. Solis. "These grants will help states improve and expand the program while strengthening the economy and creating new jobs as more startups launch and grow."
Participants in these voluntary programs are provided with financial assistance equal to their Unemployment Insurance benefits while they receive important entrepreneurial training and resources to help launch their own businesses. In order to allow participants to devote full-time attention to creating new businesses that have the potential to create additional jobs, state work search requirements are waived.
Grant money can be used by states to implement a new Self-Employment Assistance program or improve the administration of current programs, as well as to promote programs and enroll eligible participants. In order to receive federal funding, states' UI laws must meet the Labor Department's requirements. Five states (Delaware,Maine,New Jersey,New YorkandOregon) have active Self-Employment Assistance programs and are eligible now to apply for these grant funds. The other states have untilJune 30, 2013, to submit complete applications to the department.
The Labor Department will work with interested states to assist them in developing legislation as needed, and to implement Self-Employment Assistance programs. The department also will work with states on outreach strategies to identify potential entrepreneurs who are good candidates to start their own businesses. Additionally, the department is partnering with the Small Business Administration to provide technical assistance to states and to ensure that SBA resources are leveraged as states design Self-Employment Assistance programs.
For more information about Self-Employment Assistance, read the Unemployment Insurance program letter athttp://s.dol.gov/S5.
Editor's note:A breakdown of the grant funds available follows this news release.
Available Self-Employment Assistance Grants
Purpose
State
Agency
Total Available
Establishment
or Improved
Administration
Promotion
and
Enrollment
Alabama
Alabama Department of Industrial Relations
$479,840
$411,291
$68,549
Alaska
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
$69,071
$59,204
$9,867
Arizona
Arizona Department of Economic Security
$711,300
$609,686
$101,614
Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Workforce Services
$276,319
$236,845
$39,474
California
California Employment Development Department
$5,388,572
$4,618,776
$769,796
Colorado
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
$562,343
$482,008
$80,335
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Labor
$415,008
$355,721
$59,287
Delaware
Delaware Department of Labor
$80,608
$69,093
$11,515
District of Columbia
District of Columbia, Department of Employment Services
$89,317
$76,557
$12,760
Florida
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
$2,400,953
$2,057,960
$342,993
Georgia
Georgia Department of Labor
$1,156,906
$991,634
$165,272
Hawaii
Hawaii State Unemployment Insurance
$111,120
$95,246
$15,874
Idaho
Idaho Department of Labor
$167,546
$143,611
$23,935
Illinois
Illinois Department of Employment Security
$1,615,519
$1,384,731
$230,788
Indiana
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
$720,577
$617,637
$102,940
Iowa
Iowa Workforce Development
$242,970
$208,260
$34,710
Kansas
Kansas Department of Labor
$249,408
$213,778
$35,630
Kentucky
Kentucky Office of Employment & Training
$488,417
$418,643
$69,774
Louisiana
Louisiana Workforce Commission
$376,976
$323,122
$53,854
Maine
Maine Department of Labor
$132,233
$113,343
$18,890
Maryland
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
$541,360
$464,023
$77,337
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
$632,631
$542,255
$90,376
Michigan
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
$1,178,691
$1,010,307
$168,384
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
$471,045
$403,753
$67,292
Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Employment Security
$356,732
$305,770
$50,962
Missouri
Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations
$638,248
$547,070
$91,178
Montana
Montana Department of Labor & Industry
$85,942
$73,665
$12,277
Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Labor
$111,006
$95,148
$15,858
Nevada
Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation
$465,817
$399,272
$66,545
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Employment Security
$100,300
$85,971
$14,329
New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development
$1,070,511
$917,581
$152,930
New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
$173,222
$148,476
$24,746
New York
New York State Department of Labor
$1,978,999
$1,696,285
$282,714
North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Commerce
$1,228,623
$1,053,105
$175,518
North Dakota
Job Service North Dakota
$33,347
$28,583
$4,764
Ohio
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
$1,238,931
$1,061,941
$176,990
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
$274,350
$235,157
$39,193
Oregon
Oregon Employment Department
$468,830
$401,854
$66,976
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
$1,273,656
$1,091,705
$181,951
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Labor Department Administration
$504,523
$432,448
$72,075
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
$159,734
$136,915
$22,819
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
$548,432
$470,085
$78,347
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
$51,445
$44,096
$7,349
Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
$709,202
$607,887
$101,315
Texas
Texas Workforce Commission
$2,457,874
$2,106,749
$351,125
Utah
Utah Department of Workforce Services
$218,841
$187,578
$31,263
Vermont
Vermont Department of Labor
$49,329
$42,282
$7,047
Virginia
Virginia Employment Commission
$671,010
$575,151
$95,859
Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor
$9,718
$8,330
$1,388
Washington
Washington Employment Security Department
$791,014
$678,012
$113,002
West Virginia
WorkForce West Virginia
$157,955
$135,390
$22,565
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
$568,929
$487,653
$81,276
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
$44,750
$38,357
$6,393
Totals
$35,000,000
$30,000,000
$5,000,000
WASHINGTON,May 24, 2012/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --