US Department of Labor provides more than $2.3 million to continue to aid Wisconsin workers impacted by automotive industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $2,354,098 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue to provide services to about 1,400 workers affected by layoffs in the automotive industry of Rock County, Wis.

"Wisconsinites are striving to recover from major layoffs that struck the automotive industry," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This additional funding will ensure that affected workers continue to receive employment services that will lead to good jobs in promising regional industries."

These supplemental funds, awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, will continue the delivery of re-employment assistance to those workers included in the original grant award as well as those added in subsequent grant modifications.

"With these funds announced today, the administration will have provided more than $6 million in National Emergency Grants to support workers hardest hit by auto layoffs in Rock County over the past 15 months," said Dr. Edward Montgomery, executive director of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers. "The president and the administration remain committed to supporting auto communities and helping these workers find new jobs."

On Oct. 3, 2008, a grant was awarded in the amount of $3,811,892, with $1,608,600 released initially, to serve about 785 of workers affected by layoffs at General Motors and three of its suppliers, all of whom are located in Rock County. On June 26, 2009, the $2,203,292 remaining under the initial award was released to the state to continue providing services to the affected workers.

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.