Solis announces more than $100 million in Recovery Act funds to help Ohio’s unemployed workers

June 3, 2009: While in Ohio, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced nearly $18 million in funds that will assist this state’s workers affected by recent layoffs.  Of that amount, $16 million represents newly authorized Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) funds to assist workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade.  The remaining $1,657,746 is an increase modification to an existing grant to assist approximately 700 additional workers affected by layoffs at the Chrysler Twinsburg Stamping Plant.

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis

“The increase in Trade Adjustment Assistance funds will provide vital assistance to more Ohio workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade,” said Secretary Solis in Cleveland.  “The grant increase will allow affected workers of the Chrysler Twinsburg Stamping Plant to have access to the same employment-related services that other affected automotive workers in Ohio are receiving.”

All affected workers at the Chrysler Twinsburg Stamping Plant have been certified by the Labor Department as eligible for TAA.  This grant modification will provide these workers with access to “wrap-around” services that are not available through the TAA program.  These services will include assessment, counseling, case management, job search, job placement and follow-up.

On March 27, 2009, the state of Ohio was awarded

$8,342,254, with $5,074,749 released initially, to serve approximately 2,428 workers dislocated from the General Motors (GM) Truck Assembly plant located in Moraine, the Chrysler North Assembly plant located in Toledo, the GM Lordstown plant located in Warren and 12 other supplier companies located throughout Ohio.  This modification will increase the total award for this project to $10,000,000 and will be operated by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Resources for this modification to the grant are from the secretary of labor’s discretionary fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  National Emergency Grants are awarded based on a state’s ability to meet specific guidelines.  For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG.

The June 3 announcements follow another yesterday that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified Ohio to receive $88,169,529 in unemployment insurance modernization funding.
 

Secretary Solis announces release of $88.2 million in incentive funds
June 2, 2009: While in Perrysburg, Ohio with Gov. Ted Strickland, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $88,169,529 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds for the state of Ohio. 

The state qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.  Ohio ’s approved application will be posted at the department’s Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery.

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis with Ohio Governor Ted Strickland at UAW Region 2B Headquarters in Maumee, Ohio. Photo by La Prensa's Melinda Sánchez.

“Ohio recognized the importance of having its UI program better meet the needs of the 21st century workforce long before the Recovery Act,” said Secretary Solis at Glasstech, Inc.  

“Ohio uses recent wages when determining eligibility for benefits, which enables unemployed workers who are relatively new entrants to the workforce to receive the assistance they need and deserve.”

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services. 

“Providing additional funding for laid off workers and their families during this recession is not only the right thing to do – it is also the right way to stimulate our local economies,” said Gov. Strickland.

“We are grateful that President Obama and Ohio’s Congressional leaders are providing support for struggling Ohioans and helping to stabilize the economy.”

The Recovery Act made a total of $7 billion available in UI modernization incentive payments to states that include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs. 

Each state can qualify for a share of those funds by showing that its law includes those provisions.  To date, the Labor Department has certified 12 other states’ applications for some or all of their shares. 

Solis and Gov. Strickland made a subsequent appearance at the UAW Region 2B Headquarters in Maumee, Ohio, meeting workers and community leaders concerning the auto industry and the need for high-tech jobs.