US Department of Labor provides National Emergency Grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at nuclear facility in Washington state

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,341,383 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment assistance for about 400 workers affected by layoffs from multiple environmental cleanup contractors including CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation Co., Materials and Energy Corp., Mission Support Alliance and 13 others – at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington.

"Workers formerly employed at the Hanford Site are facing the challenge of finding jobs comparable to the ones they lost," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This federal grant aims to help lessen the negative impact of these layoffs by providing workers with the re-employment services they need."

The grant, awarded to the Washington State Employment Security Department, will provide these dislocated workers with intensive employment-related assistance, including supportive services and training, in order to help them re-enter the workforce in growing areas of the economy.

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/.