WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,412,920 grant to assist approximately 328 workers in the state of Oregon affected by layoffs from Cessna Aircraft Co. in Bend, Ore.

"This grant will provide re-employment services vital to ensuring these workers re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "They deserve our support as they seek to upgrade existing skills or enter training that leads to good jobs in promising regional industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $3,850,268 in grants to assist about 1,430 workers in the state of Oregon affected by layoffs from Monaco Coach Corp. locations in Coburg and Hines.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the creation of a new Unemployment Benefit Estimation Tool that allows mortgage companies and housing counselors to project a homeowner's unemployment insurance income for loan modification purposes. The tool was created as part of collaborative effort among the Labor Department, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Hope Now Alliance.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,500 workers from companies in 17 states – Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 531,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 520,000. The 4-week moving average was 532,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average of 533,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 10, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $447 million in funding allocations for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for states to assist workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing and foreign trade. These are the initial allocations for fiscal year 2010 and represent approximately 65 percent of the total amount available for TAA for this year. The remaining funds are being held in reserve by the Labor Department for distribution as needed throughout the year.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $24,857,608 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of a tsunami that struck American Samoa on Sept. 29.

"Our hearts go out to the victims and survivors of the recent tsunami in American Samoa," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will support ongoing recovery efforts and help American Samoans put their lives back together."

WASHINGTON – Beginning today, in observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting an art exhibit at the department's headquarters building located at 200 Constitution Ave. NW in Washington. The exhibit, which will remain until Oct. 30, displays the works of apprentices in the WVSA ARTs connection's ARTiculate Employment Training and Outreach Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified the release of $84,979,841 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Colorado. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for compelling family reasons to be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,329 workers from companies in 14 states – Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 514,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 531,500, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 540,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $13,017,176 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Montana. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by adding provisions that allow part-time workers and individuals who are upgrading skills to receive unemployment compensation.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 8,600 workers from companies in 17 states – Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 521,000, a decrease of 33,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 554,000. The 4-week moving average was 539,750, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 548,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 26, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $774,925 National Emergency Grant increment to support continued clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of severe storms that occurred in Illinois in 2008.

"Parts of Illinois are still working to recover from destruction caused by severe storms in June 2008. This additional funding will allow temporary workers to stay on the job and further the process to a complete regional recovery," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $553,237 grant to assist about 100 workers in the state of Maine affected by layoffs at WestPoint Home in Biddeford.

"This grant will provide crucial retraining and re-employment services to help workers find new careers in the high-growth, high-demand sectors of Maine's economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Plant closings and work reductions are an unfortunate reality across industries. Today, we have an opportunity to help these workers as they seek to re-enter the job market."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 7,200 workers from companies in 17 states – Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 551,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 534,000. The 4-week moving average was 548,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 554,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Sept. 19, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,507,168 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of flooding that occurred in Ohio in 2007.

This funding will be awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and be used to create more temporary jobs to assist in recovery and clean-up efforts as a result of the devastation caused by the flooding.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $430,417 grant to assist approximately 65 workers affected by May 2009 layoffs at two locations of the Standard Insurance Co. in Portland and South Portland, Maine.

"The economic downturn has had a disproportionate impact on the financial services industry," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help affected workers retool their skills to successfully obtain employment in new careers or in similar occupations within other industries."