LANSING, Mich.—Senator Ray Basham (D-Taylor) announced today that Wayne and 23 other Michigan counties will receive $38 million in federal funding for job retraining and career support services for 8,600 displaced workers. The National Emergency Grants (NEGs) are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) and distributed by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).

“These federal funds are the shot in the arm Wayne County workers need to gain new skills and get back on the job,” said Basham. “The region’s workforce has the dedication and diligence to help Michigan’s economy turn around, and now thanks to these grants, they can get the training as well.”

The $38 million was awarded for three regions covering the counties of Allegan, Bay, Berrien, Cass, Genesee, Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wayne.

National Emergency Grants are distributed by the Secretary of Labor to provide employment-related services for unemployed workers. The grants are intended to temporarily expand service capacity at the state and local levels by providing time-limited funding assistance in response to significant job loss events like factory closings. Funding is available to dislocated workers in the region for one year from the date of the award. Currently displaced workers and those who lose their jobs over the next two months are eligible to receive training and support services.

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