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

OLYMPIA – The state’s Employment Security Department has awarded $5.13 million to a Tacoma-Pierce County workforce development agency to help workers upgrade their skills and help businesses fill their jobs with local talent.

The workforce development council, known as WorkForce Central, uses the funds to provide career counseling, skill assessments, job-search assistance and training to laid-off workers, low-income adults, low-income or disadvantaged young people, and other workers.  The services are available through local WorkSource employment centers and affiliated sites.

The funding for fiscal year July 2011 through June 2012 comes from the U.S. Department of Labor through the Workforce Investment Act.  It’s down about $320,000 from last year due to federal budget cuts that have slashed nearly $3.3 million statewide. 

 “These federal funds are invested in locally determined strategies that increase the competitiveness of our workforce and businesses,” said Linda Nguyen, CEO of WorkForce Central.  “With the unemployment rate remaining high, we need to continue to invest in education, training and employment preparation so that our residents can fill available family-wage jobs.”

Employment Security, the local council and other organizations are partners in the statewide WorkSource system, which provides a broad array of training and employment services to 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, finding a job, or finding local talent should visit their nearest WorkSource Career Center or affiliate site.  Locations are listed at go2worksource.com.

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WorkSource website: www.go2worksource.com

Broadcast version

The Employment Security Department has appropriated five-point-one-million dollars to WorkForce Central of Tacoma-Pierce County.

The money will be used through next June to help laid-off workers, low-income adults, disadvantaged youths and other workers find jobs or receive job training. 
Individuals who are interested in these services should visit their nearest WorkSource employment center.