R.I. to receive $641K to help long-term unemployed

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GRANT is delivering $641,101 to Rhode Island to help connect people receiving unemployment compensation to individualized programs to help them re-enter the workforce sooner.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GRANT is delivering $641,101 to Rhode Island to help connect people receiving unemployment compensation to individualized programs to help them re-enter the workforce sooner.

PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Labor Department has awarded Rhode Island $641,101 to continue funding through April of programs to help provide career services to people receiving unemployment benefits.

The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments program grant is part of a $65 million national appropriation that helps states do a number of things to help unemployed persons connect with employment:

  • Develop an individual re-employment plan for each unemployment benefit recipient selected to participate in the program
  • Provide career and labor market information that will improve the quality of a job search
  • Help develop job skills
  • Review the participant’s eligibility for continued unemployment benefits

According to the Labor Department, the program run through the R.I. Department of Labor and Training is designed to look first to help people about to run out of unemployment benefits as well as veterans receiving unemployment compensation specifically allocated to former service members. The agency added in the release announcing the grants, which are going to all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, that the program has been proven to reduce the amount of unemployment benefits that participants require and make it more likely that they will find work. The department said that one study showed savings of $2.60 for every dollar invested in the program.

Funding for the program through the balance of fiscal 2017 – which would complete 13 years of services rendered – still needs to pass Congress in order to keep the program operational past April 28.

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