MONTGOMERY— The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has secured an additional $1.2 million to help out-of-work residents obtain employment. The funds will help residents unemployed for more than six months to develop specialized skills required for careers in high-growth industries.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor notified ADECA that the state’s application for support had been approved. The $1.2 million grant will supplement Alabama’s $12.4 million annual allocation for job-training assistance. ADECA will target the additional funds toward military veterans and other workers who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer due to layoffs or business closings.
“Hard-working Alabamians face many challenges when they find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own,” ADECA Director
Jim Byard, Jr.
said. “This grant lets us extend a helping hand to more Alabama residents so they can qualify for a new career and build a brighter future.”
Typical assistance includes paying the cost of training programs that certify workers for jobs in high-demand industries including health care, advanced manufacturing, avionics, computer science and transportation. Workers also may participate in on-the-job training programs that reimburse employers a percentage of new employees’ wages while they learn on the job.
Alabamians should contact their nearest Alabama Career Center to determine eligibility for training or other employment assistance. A list of career center locations and contact information is available at www.joblink.alabama.gov.
MEDIA RELEASE/ Mike Presley, Larry Childers
