Workforce Boards Benefit From Stimulus

As more workers file for unemployment benefits, the federal government has agreed to add more resources to assist them as they seek their next job.

President Obama's stimulus plan will add $3.5 billion to the workforce investment system - with more than $165 million of that going to Florida.

Some of that will be allocated to the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board, but it is not known how much.

"The stimulus package is in addition to what we already do," said U.S. Department of Labor spokeswoman Peggy Abrahamson of the government's workforce funding. "We spend about $60 billion per year, so it's already a pretty hefty program."

The funding will be used for the "one-stop career centers," which offer workers help with career counseling, skill assessments, job searching, training and other services to boost their skill levels and education.

It is not known when the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board will receive all of its funds, but it likely will have it by the end of next week, Abrahamson said.

The local one-stop center is Career Central, which is park of the local workforce board.

Career Central spokesman Ken Russ was not in the office Tuesday and was unavailable for comment.

"If you're laid off, you can get training for any job," said Abrahamson of the program. "If you want to be an entrepreneur, they can offer that. The same goes for trade jobs, if you want to go that route."

The stimulus bill, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will fund more youth employment opportunities, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

As previously reported, the plan also will increase unemployment benefits by $25 per week. The deadline to apply for those benefits also has been extended.

A worker can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 59 weeks. The maximum amount per week - with the recent increase - is $300.

The latest benefits took effect Feb. 22.

As for the funding toward the one-stop career centers, the U.S. Department of Labor does the allocations to the states and the states themselves make allocations to the local workforce boards, Abrahamson said.

The states received their allotments Friday, so not all the formulas had been decided as of Tuesday afternoon.