News Release

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ETA News Release: [09/15/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: 1843

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces $1.5 Million National Emergency Grant to Aid Dislocated Workers in Oregon

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a National Emergency Grant (NEG) of $1.5 million to aid dislocated workers in Oregon. The grant will have an initial release of $694,120.

“The President and I want to ensure that workers dislocated by trade get the training and assistance they need to prepare for new and better careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This $1.5 million grant will provide additional employment support services that workers might not get through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) including counseling, case management, supportive services and follow-up assistance.”

“The services announced today are on top of the considerable assistance that has already been provided to Oregon’s trade-certified workers, “Secretary Chao noted. “They currently receive up to two years of training and income support and the federal government will also pay up to 65 percent of their health insurance premiums. If workers are over the age of 50 and qualify for the Alternative TAA program, the government will pay 50 percent of the wage differential if they get a new job that pays less than their old job.”

Awarded to the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, the $1.5 million NEG grant will provide assistance to approximately 310 TAA-eligible workers in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties who were laid off due to the closure of the SUMCO Oregon Plant located in Salem. The plant manufactures silicon wafers.

Under TAA, trade-certified workers are already eligible to receive up to two years of training and income support. The federal government will also pay up to 65 percent of their health insurance premiums. And if workers are over the age of 50 and qualify for the Alternative TAA program, the government will pay 50 percent of the wage differential if they get a new job that pays less than their old job. Today’s National Emergency Grant comes in addition to this previously awarded aid.

In addition to providing extra assistance to trade-certified workers, the grant may be used to avoid any disruption in training in case available TAA funds are not sufficient to cover remaining 2004 expenses.

National Emergency Grants are part of the Secretary’s discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state’s ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information on the Department of Labor’s employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.

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