U.S. Labor Department announces release of $220.3 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Georgia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $220,286,144 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Georgia. Georgia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers and people who are upgrading their skills.

"Georgia has made important updates to its UI program to better meet the needs of the 21st century workforce," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The UI modernization provisions adopted in Georgia help unemployed workers who have entered the workforce recently, work part time or need training to become re-employed receive the benefits they need and deserve."

The Georgia Department of Labor can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services.

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. Georgia's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/. The approved applications of other states also can be found at this site.