National Emergency Grant to Iowa from Department of Labor

Press Release

Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a National Emergency Grant to Iowa Workforce Development to provide services to the approximately 450 workers affected by layoffs at Electrolux in Jefferson and Webster City, and three of its suppliers in Ames and Webster City. Last year, Grassley expressed the importance of assistance to these workers in a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

The Department of Labor is granting $1,352,776 in funding, with $676,388 to be initially released to Iowa Workforce Development. The grant will be operated by the Region XII Council of Governments.

"These funds will help these communities recover from the loss of this employer and assist the individuals affected by its closure to find jobs in the area, so they can continue living in Iowa," Grassley said.

According to the Department of Labor, National Emergency Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of Workforce Investment Act training and employment programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events which cause significant job losses. National Emergency Grants generally provide resources to states and local workforce investment boards to quickly reemploy laid-off workers by offering training to increase occupational skills.

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