Federal grant to aid state's unemployed

Originally published Friday, March 8, 2002

WASHINGTON -- The Labor Department is granting Washington state $15 million to help people find jobs, Rep. Jennifer Dunn's spokeswoman said Thursday.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao declared a state of emergency in Washington because unemployment in the state has soared to 7.5 percent.

Gov. Gary Locke will be able to use the money, which comes from an emergency fund, on programs that help people get back to work, including retraining classes, said Jen Burita, spokeswoman for Dunn, R-Wash.

The funds will be available immediately, Burita said. The state could also receive more help in the future.

'Eligible for more'

"If all of the projections do come true, and we expect them to, we are going to be eligible for more," Burita said.

Separately on Thursday, the House also voted to extend unemployment benefits for laid-off workers by 13 weeks as part of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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