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News Release

US Labor Department awards $65M to help unemployed workers with job searches, maintain integrity of Unemployment Insurance program

52 state, territorial agencies to receive Reemployment Services, Eligibility Assessment grants

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration today awarded $65 million to 52 state workforce agencies, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, to operate Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment programs for unemployment insurance beneficiaries.

“Unemployment insurance claimants in danger of exhausting their benefits require responsive, timely services to avoid becoming long-term unemployed,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Portia Wu. “The RESEA program offers these claimants access to the wide array of services available in the workforce system to help them find good jobs. The grants also help us maintain the integrity of the UI program by ensuring their continued eligibility for benefits.”

The funding will allow states to continue operating their RESEA programs through April 2017. Upon receipt of a full year’s appropriation for 2017, ETA expects to provide additional funding to administer these programs through December 2017.      

The funds will be used to conduct in-person assessments in American Job Centers. The assessments include:

  • Developing an individual re-employment plan for each claimant selected for services.
  • Providing career and labor market information to inform their job search.
  • Help developed job skills and employment prospects.
  • Customizing reemployment services.
  • Review the claimant’s continued eligibility for UI benefits.

The target populations for RESEA services include individuals who are identified as most likely to exhaust their UI benefits and transitioning veterans receiving Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers. 

This is the 13th year that the department has awarded grants through this initiative. Several studies have shown that this type of program is effective in helping unemployed individuals successfully get back to work. Participating claimants need benefits for a shorter period of time, are less likely to exhaust their benefits, and are more successful in returning to work. Every dollar invested produced a savings of $2.60, one study found.

Information about the positive impact and effectiveness of these types of services can be found in research conducted by Impaq International LLC on the department’s Web site at:  http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/uirelprojects.asp#reacongress; and

http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_08_REA_Nevada_Follow_up_Report.pdf

Another recently completed evaluation will soon be made available.  

Editor’s Note: A listing of states and their initial awards (under the Continuing Resolution that provides federal funding through April 28, 2017) follows:

 

State

FY2017 Award (Initial Award)

Alabama

$448,771

Alaska

$156,353

Arizona

$413,387

Arkansas

$244,670

California

$6,982,052

Colorado

$112,450

Connecticut

$838,222

Delaware

$265,318

District of Columbia

$359,952

Florida

$3,233,330

Georgia

$460,050

Hawaii

$71,867

Idaho

$162,556

Illinois

$752,017

Indiana

$2,531,762

Iowa

$855,746

Kansas

$393,846

Kentucky

$497,683

Louisiana

$960,081

Maine

$720,716

Maryland

$689,745

Massachusetts

$3,387,820

Michigan

$1,189,240

Minnesota

$844,917

Mississippi

$552,470

Missouri

$421,969

Montana

$156,890

Nebraska

$287,710

Nevada

$1,184,102

New Hampshire

$754,155

New Jersey

$1,063,379

New Mexico

$325,637

New York

$11,215,399

North Carolina

$2,393,636

North Dakota

$327,973

Ohio

$1,811,739

Oklahoma

$540,991

Oregon

$2,679,475

Pennsylvania

$830,840

Puerto Rico

$165,018

Rhode Island

$641,101

South Carolina

$683,834

South Dakota

$135,772

Tennessee

$1,418,027

Texas

$4,280,196

Utah

$590,017

Vermont

$403,240

Virgin Islands

$120,949

Virginia

$913,800

Washington

$2,716,898

West Virginia

$182,669

Wisconsin

$1,629,564

Total

$65,000,000

 
Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
January 13, 2017
Release Number
17-70-NAT
Media Contact: Egan Reich
Phone Number