March 06, 2007
March 6, 2007
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Michigan will receive an additional $11 million in federal trade adjustment assistance (TAA) funds from the United States Department of Labor. The funding is the result of a request the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) submitted in mid-February.
"Helping workers impacted by the global economy receive the training they need to succeed is a critical part of our economic plan," said Granholm. "I am so pleased that the federal government responded to our request with unprecedented speed, and I thank our congressional delegation for working in a bipartisan fashion with me to make this funding request a reality for these workers and their families."
DLEG works with local Michigan Works! Agencies to assess worker training needs and funding shortfalls. Earlier this year, it became apparent that federal funding allocated to Michigan for FY 2007 would not be enough to cover all workers eligible for TAA benefits. On February 15, 2007, DLEG submitted a formal request for an additional $11.7 million to help serve and enroll over 10,000 TAA participants in worker training programs. At the request of the Governor's office, Michigan's congressional delegation submitted a letter of support - signed by every member of Michigan's delegation - later that month, asking for quick action to ensure there would be no disruption in the services provided to Michigan's workers.
The additional funding is expected to come in two allotments. $5.75 million will be available immediately to meet current needs. An additional $5.25 million will be made available as soon as the funding becomes available to the agency, which is operating under a continuing budget resolution.
The additional funding announced today brings Michigan's FY2007 TAA to $18 million. In FY2006, DLEG submitted two requests for supplemental funds to keep TAA eligible workers in training programs, receiving a total of $15 million in TAA funds.
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