NEW YORK—Governor David A. Paterson announced the availability of federal funding to assist unemployed New Yorkers, particularly those in the financial services sector crippled by the economic downturn, on Thursday. The $11 million National Emergency Grant (NEG), awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, covers the tuition costs of job-training courses available at education and career centers.
“Since the recession began in August 2008, New York State has lost tens of thousands of jobs in the financial services sector alone, which makes this funding all the more critical to workers who need it most,” said state Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith.
The funds support “those in need of a competitive edge” or “in pursuit of a new career,” according a release from the Gov. Paterson.
“Unemployment is the highest it has been in decades, and in New York we are meeting that challenge by training workers for the jobs of the future, by building a modern unemployment insurance program, by reforming the state’s insurance law to extend COBRA benefits and by leveraging federal dollars to provide greater economic security for the unemployed,” said Gov. Paterson.
Paterson worked with New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell to apply for the NEG funding. Last February, the U.S. Department of Labor sent notification of the $11 million award, more than those obligated to other states. The last time New York received funding through the NEG program was following 9/11.
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) mailed surveys to over 5,300 individuals potentially eligible for NEG services in Westchester, Long Island and New York City, and met with more than 1,100 potential NEG workers. More than 400 training plans have since been approved or are in the process of receiving authorization for NEG tuition assistance. An estimated 1,400 workers are expected to receive NEG funding.
New York State received $137 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to modernize the state’s unemployment system. The bulk of that funding—approximately $120 million—was used to provide Unemployment Insurance benefits for unemployed workers, with the other $17 million financing additional staffing at DOL unemployment call centers and improvements to the unemployment insurance system as a whole.
“Since the recession began in August 2008, New York State has lost tens of thousands of jobs in the financial services sector alone, which makes this funding all the more critical to workers who need it most,” said state Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith.
The funds support “those in need of a competitive edge” or “in pursuit of a new career,” according a release from the Gov. Paterson.
“Unemployment is the highest it has been in decades, and in New York we are meeting that challenge by training workers for the jobs of the future, by building a modern unemployment insurance program, by reforming the state’s insurance law to extend COBRA benefits and by leveraging federal dollars to provide greater economic security for the unemployed,” said Gov. Paterson.
Paterson worked with New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell to apply for the NEG funding. Last February, the U.S. Department of Labor sent notification of the $11 million award, more than those obligated to other states. The last time New York received funding through the NEG program was following 9/11.
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) mailed surveys to over 5,300 individuals potentially eligible for NEG services in Westchester, Long Island and New York City, and met with more than 1,100 potential NEG workers. More than 400 training plans have since been approved or are in the process of receiving authorization for NEG tuition assistance. An estimated 1,400 workers are expected to receive NEG funding.
New York State received $137 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to modernize the state’s unemployment system. The bulk of that funding—approximately $120 million—was used to provide Unemployment Insurance benefits for unemployed workers, with the other $17 million financing additional staffing at DOL unemployment call centers and improvements to the unemployment insurance system as a whole.
