WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that the State of Virginia has been awarded $1,498,683 from the U.S. Department of Labor for on-the-job training programs to help Virginians get back to work. The funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, supported by both senators.

“The United States has never gone wrong when it has made sustained investments in higher education and job training,” said Webb, who introduced the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act to build ‘on ramps’ for American workers who need new skills and a better education in order to improve their lives. “These grants will provide workers employment as well as training to upgrade their skills and broaden their opportunities.”

“These investments will enhance on-the-job training programs and provide out-of-work Virginians with an opportunity to both earn a paycheck and learn new skills, making them better-qualified candidates for future employment,” Senator Warner said.

On-the-Job Training Grants will help jump start re-employment for dislocated workers experiencing prolonged unemployment by enabling employers to create training and job opportunities for these individuals. Participants will be given a chance to “earn and learn,” which means they will develop applicable occupational skills while earning a paycheck. Employers participating in these on-the-job training projects will receive partial reimbursement to offset the extraordinary cost of training workers. The projects will help workers become proficient in needed skills more quickly, which will serve to encourage employers to hire workers sooner than perhaps initially planned, facilitating the private sector hiring of well-qualified individuals to contribute to their bottom line and spur economic recovery.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

National Emergency Grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor based on a state’s ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information about the grants announced today, visit http://www.doleta.gov/layoff/Job_Training.cfm.

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