Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

DEPARTMENT SECURES $1.5 MILLION FOR DISLOCATED WORKERS

MADISON—The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has requested and received $1,549,292 in grants from the U.S. Department of Labor to help more than 1,000 Wisconsin workers affected by the business layoffs and closings of U.S. Leather, Siemens Power, J.C. Penney Warehouse, Master Lock Co. and Outboard Marine Corp.

"We are pleased that the federal Department of Labor recognizes the value of Wisconsin workers," DWD Secretary Linda Stewart said. "These are hard workers who have been put into tough situations through no fault of their own. They deserve all the help we can give them in finding new employment."

The project, which will be operated by the Milwaukee Private Industry Council, will aid affected workers in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Services will include outreach and recruitment, career counseling, job-search assistance, job development and placement, basic remedial education, English as a Second Language, classroom, vocational and on-the-job training, out-of-area job search and support services.

Occupations targeted for the funds include accountant, automotive technician, carpenter, microcomputer specialist, welder, machine tool operator and truck driver.

Workers who lose their jobs because of technological change, foreign competition, or government action are eligible for help from the dislocated worker program, which is funded under the Job Training Partnership Act.

"This is a great opportunity for workers affected by layoffs or closings to obtain the skills and assistance they need to make their way back into the labor force. This grant will help us continue to build and maintain a strong workforce in Wisconsin," Secretary Stewart said.

On June 20, 2000, the State of Wisconsin submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Labor for $1,549,292 to serve the affected workers from those companies. These funds are in addition to a previously approved grant totaling $500,000 for those workers. On March 28^th Wisconsin received authorization to immediately use $165,000 of that grant for emergency assistance to serve some 500 U.S. Leather workers because they lost their jobs with virtually no notice. In all the department expects Wisconsin to receive more than $2 million to serve affected workers of those five companies.

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