U.S. Labor Department announces release of $42.5 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Colorado

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $42,489,921 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Colorado. Colorado qualified for a portion of its share of 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.

"Colorado's unemployment insurance program has been updated to better meet the needs of the 21st century labor force," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Now more than ever, it is critical that workers and their families receive the benefits they need and deserve. The new legislation enacted in Colorado is particularly helpful to unemployed workers who have entered the workforce recently and might not otherwise qualify for UI benefits."

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, to administer the state unemployment insurance program or deliver 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. Colorado's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/. Other approved applications can also be found on this site.