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Media contact: Rick Van Cise, communications manager, 360-902-9454

OLYMPIA – The state’s Employment Security Department has awarded $2.6 million to the Northwest Workforce Development Council to help workers upgrade their skills and find work.

The funding for fiscal year July 2011 through June 2012 comes from the federal Department of Labor through the Workforce Investment Act.  Although funding for most other areas of the state has been slashed this year by a total of $3.3 million, the Northwest workforce area is getting about $17,000 more than last year. 

The workforce development council uses the funds to provide counseling, skill assessments, job-search assistance and training to laid-off workers, low-income adults, and low-income or disadvantaged young people.  The services are available through local WorkSource offices in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties.

“The Northwest Workforce Council continues to focus on strategically investing the federal WIA funds in employment and training,” said Gay Dubigk, executive director for the council.  “Last year, more than 500 occupational training scholarships helped strengthen the region’s talent base of skilled workers, which assists local business and industry with increasing productivity and profit.”
 
Employment Security and the local council are partners in the statewide WorkSource system, which provides a broad array of training and employment services to all kinds of employers and workers.

“The number-one goal of WorkSource is to put people to work, and we do that through personalized assistance that looks both at their work skills and their job-hunting skills,” said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause. “In the end, employers gain access to a higher-caliber workforce, and workers can build a brighter future for their families.”

Employment Security will distribute some $44.6 million this year to the state’s 12 workforce development councils based on their population, unemployment levels and number of disadvantaged people.

Anyone who needs help with training or finding a job should visit their nearest WorkSource employment center.  Locations are listed at go2worksource.com.

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WorkSource website: www.go2worksource.com

Broadcast version

The Employment Security Department has awarded two-point-six-million dollars to the Northwest Workforce Development Council.  

The money will be used through next June to help laid-off workers, low-income adults and disadvantaged young people find jobs or receive job training.  The Northwest workforce area covers Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties.

Individuals who are interested in these services should visit their nearest WorkSource employment center.