BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a grant of $159,734 to the state of Rhode Island to enhance and promote its Self-Employment Assistance program. Rhode Island plans to use the funding to implement intensive training as well as one-on-one mentoring to assist potential entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today issued the following statement regarding North Carolina House of Representatives Bill 4:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a grant competition for the National Farmworker Jobs Program. Funds will be used to provide career training and employment and supportive services to improve economic opportunities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families.

"Farmworkers – harvesting and packaging the vegetables and fruits that feed a nation – are vital to our economy. These Labor Department grants will be an investment that benefits not only these workers but all of us," said acting Secretary Seth D. Harris.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 366,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 371,000. The 4-week moving average was 350,500, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 352,750.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $529,837 National Emergency Grant to assist about 150 workers affected by the closure of Siltronic Corp. in Portland, Ore., which manufactures silicon wafers for computers, smartphones, navigation systems and similar devices.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, an increase of 38,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 330,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 351,750.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 330,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 335,000. The 4-week moving average was 351,750, a decrease of 8,250 from the previous week's revised average of 360,000.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of approximately $75 million in YouthBuild grant funds to develop programs that will help out-of-school youths complete high school or General Educational Development programs, as well as learn critical occupational skills in construction, health care, information technology and other fields.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 335,000, a decrease of 37,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 359,250, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 366,000.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 371,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 367,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,750, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 359,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $408,403 National Emergency Grant increment for continued assistance to about 320 workers affected by the 2011 closure of Evergreen Solar Inc. in Devens and Marlborough, Mass., and layoffs of two of its staffing firms.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 372,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 362,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 359,750.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1.4 million National Emergency Grant increment award to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet's Department for Workforce Investment. The award will provide partial premium payments for health insurance coverage for eligible unemployed individuals.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $300,000 National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

"We are committed to helping the citizens of West Virginia recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will assist with cleanup and repair of the state's infrastructure and help those affected by Hurricane Sandy to return to normalcy."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $105,600 National Emergency Grant supplement to the Georgia Department of Labor. The supplement will enable the state to continue funding partial premium payments for health insurance coverage for qualified jobless workers and expand the number of people served under the grant to about 460.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 362,000. The 4-week moving average was 356,750, a decrease of 11,250 from the previous week's revised average of 368,000.

Funds will assist workers in Alabama, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina and Virginia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $1,058,254 National Emergency Grant supplement to provide qualified jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage and to expand the number of states and people served.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 361,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,750, a decrease of 13,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 381,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $1.2 million National Emergency Grant supplement to WorkForce West Virginia. The supplement will enable the state to continue funding partial premium payments for health insurance coverage for qualified unemployed individuals and expand the number of people served.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Small Business Administration today jointly announced a new website to support state workforce and unemployment agencies in implementing or enhancing Self-Employment Assistance programs. Today's announcement expands on guidance issued in May, which included $35 million in funding for states to implement or expand these programs made possible through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.