US Department of Labor announces $1.4 million in TAA technical assistance grants to provide technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $1.4 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance Technical Assistance and Outreach Partnership Grants to three organizations to provide services in 10 states. The organizations are the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO. The grants will be used to support projects that provide technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers impacted by foreign trade.

"America's workers have always been its greatest asset, and we must overcome every obstacle to ensure men and women across this great nation have access to good jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "By partnering with national organizations and labor groups with strong local ties, we will provide needed outreach and support to workers displaced by trade. That is an important step in the right direction for both workers and the nation."

Grant recipients will work with strategic partners in California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. These strategic partner organizations are important in accomplishing project goals because many have direct relations to trade-affected populations and are uniquely qualified to reach specific pools within targeted industries.

The following organizations will provide services in coordination with the grant recipients: the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Washington State Employment Security Department, the California Labor Federation Workforce and Economic Development Program, the Indiana Labor Institute for Training, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Michigan Human Resources Development Institute, Minnesota AFL-CIO, the New York State Workforce Development Institute, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the Ohio Dislocated Worker Program/United Labor Agency, the National Employment Law Project, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, IAMAW affiliates, the state workforce investment boards, the Wisconsin state AFL-CIO, the AFL-CIO Labor Education and Training Center (a one-stop career center) and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Grantees will begin implementing their proposed projects by July 1. The period of grant performance will be up to 18 months.

Today's grants are supported and authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For a full listing of the grants and project descriptions, visit http://www.doleta.gov.