US Department of Labor announces more than $18 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds for District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $18,421,988 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the District of Columbia. The district qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by making state unemployment benefits available to part-time workers and by providing additional weeks of benefits to UI beneficiaries enrolled in approved training programs.

"The District of Columbia has made important updates to its UI program to better meet the needs of today s workforce, and that is why the district is receiving this grant today," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Especially in challenging times like this, it is imperative that the safety net includes part-time workers and individuals who are upgrading their skills to obtain better jobs."

The District of Columbia Department of Employment Security may use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the Council of the District of Columbia, 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. The district s approved application will be posted on the Labor Department s Employment and Training Administration website at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. Other approved applications can also be found on this site.