Governor Paterson Announces $4.5 Million in Federal Funds to Help Unemployed Workers Find Jobs

Governor Paterson announced today that New York State will receive approximately $4.5 million in federal grant funds for 2009 under the national Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) initiative of the US Department of Labor. The REA initiative is designed to help people receiving unemployment insurance get back to work faster by providing them with individualized job search and training services. The money comes from federal funds that support the administration of unemployment insurance. REA grant funds support additional One-Stop Career Center staff who work one-on-one with individuals receiving unemployment insurance. Staff will help workers determine what job hunting and training services they need, and then develop a job search plan customized to each person’s needs. Staff will continue to follow-up with each worker throughout the job search process, until the worker gets a job or exhausts his or her unemployment benefits. For more information about the NYS Department of Labor and its programs, visit http://www.labor.ny.gov/.