US Department of Labor awards more than $20.5M to support equitable access to unemployment insurance systems in three states

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $20,520,000 in grant funding to Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina to improve the delivery of unemployment insurance services to people facing obstacles to access.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the latest round of equity grants will allow states to implement projects that seek to ensure race, age, ethnicity, language proficiency, disability status, geographic location or other systemic barriers do not prevent those in need from accessing unemployment insurance benefits.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the grants will support projects designed to expand outreach, promote awareness, streamline instructions, provide translation services, improve technology, increase staffing and address other accessibility issues in disadvantaged communities.

In August 2021, the department issued guidance to inform states about the availability of $260 million in grant funding to promote equitable access to unemployment insurance benefits. To date, the department has announced the award of equity grants totaling nearly $107 million to 20 states and the District of Columbia.