U.S. Department of Labor announces $38 million in grants to assist workers in Michigan

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three National Emergency Grants totaling $38,033,600 to assist workers affected by documented layoffs from multiple companies in three defined regional economies throughout Michigan. These grants will provide flexibility to serve 2,161 workers currently displaced and those affected by future layoffs occurring within these regions during the grants' 12-month period of performance. Based on state of Michigan estimates, about 13,291 total workers ultimately will be served.

The first regional economy, known as Southeast Michigan, is comprised of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne (including the city of Detroit) counties. The second regional economy, known as Mid-Michigan, is comprised of Bay, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee (including the city of Flint), Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee and Tuscola counties. The final region, known as West Michigan, is comprised of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kent (including the city of Grand Rapids), Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Van Buren counties.

"These grants are part of our active commitment to retraining and reintegrating workers who have been impacted by the automotive crisis into promising sectors of Michigan's regional economies," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

All three grants were awarded to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.

A key focus of the grants will be targeting workers in the three regions dislocated from the automotive and other related industries for training to transition them to growing areas of the regional economies, including health care, solar manufacturing; and management, scientific and technical consulting services.

"These grants are one more way the Obama Administration is pledging to help workers across the state of Michigan," said Dr. Ed Montgomery, executive director of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers. "These funds will help workers in the region who have been hard-hit by this economic downturn as they work to get back on their feet and retrain for new jobs."

Of the $38,033,600 announced today, $19,016,800 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance. The amount released today will be funded by resources made available for National Emergency Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/.