next>

USDA Rural Development funding benefits Central Appalachia

A recent report from USDA Rural Development describes how the agency has used funding provided by the Recovery Act to work toward meeting its goal of ensuring that rural areas are creating wealth and thriving economically. USDA Rural Development received over $21 billion in Recovery Act funding. According to the report, its total Recovery Act investments created or saved more than 300,000 jobs for rural residents as of September 30, 2010. Following is a break-down of state-by-state awards of USDA Rural Development Recovery Act funding in Central Appalachia. Kentucky: $770,039,979North Carolina: $1,305,007,257Ohio: $554,041,941Virginia: $660,430,335West Virginia: $297,734,215 The report also highlights some of Rural Development’s efforts under the Recovery Act to modernize, renew, and rebuild rural communities across the country. Here is an excerpt from a story focusing on efforts in Tennessee. Rural Tennesseans Benefit from Computer and Workforce Training The modern day job search is increasingly an online effort, which puts those without access to the Internet at a substantial disadvantage. For many older adults looking for employment, the barrier is even greater if they lack access to the Internet and the computer skills. Thanks to a Recovery Act-funded grant awarded to the Northwest Tennessee Human Resources Agency (NWTHRA) in the little town of Dresden, older adults and displaced workers now have access to a computer center and a work force training curriculum designed especially for them. The idea for developing a computer lab for seniors came to NWTHRA staff when an older client found a good job opportunity...

Federal Funding to the States: Saving and Creating Jobs

The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers recently released the 2nd Quarter 2010 report about jobs saved or created as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The report pays particular attention to tracking public investment spending and the resulting impact on job creation and protection across the country. The CEA puts the estimate of jobs created or saved through Recovery Act funding nationwide between 2.5 and 3.6 million. In addressing the gradual ramp up of spending related to public investment spending, the CEA says: “The public investment components of the Recovery Act were always expected to spend out more gradually, because they typically require planning and are often awarded through a rigorous competitive process. But as of the end of June, roughly two-thirds of the public investment funds included in the Act had been obligated, and more than $86 billion had been outlayed. Public investment outlays increased by more than 50 percent between the first and second quarters of this year, which explains why the Vice-President has named this summer the “Summer of Recovery.” As the other stimulus in the Recovery Act gradually winds down over the next few quarters, the public investments will continue at a rapid pace, providing continued support to the economy.” Individual states have received varying proportions of Recovery Act funding, given a variety of factors including population and the mix of industries present in each state. Accordingly, the impact of Recovery Act funding varies among states. The most recent...

Program to Cover Cost of New Employees

WorkNow Kentucky (www.worknow.ky.gov) is a new program in eastern Kentucky that matches employers who need additional workers with qualified unemployed or underemployed parents and youth aged 16-24 — while covering 100 percent of the cost of wages and benefits for the new employees. Administered by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (www.ekcep.org), WorkNow Kentucky will place individuals with an employer for a period of 10 weeks or less for 25-40 hours per week at no cost to the employer. Jobs may be created for a special project or to meet existing business needs. Public, private, nonprofit, for-profit, state and local government entities can participate as employers. Based in Hazard, Kentucky, EKCEP provides exemplary training, employment, and workforce development programs to 23 mountain counties in eastern Kentucky. EKCEP has received $17.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Funds to implement the WorkNow Kentucky program. Contact your local Workforce Investment Area representative or visit www.WorkNow.ky.gov for more information. About Tamara...

Four Appalachian States Receive ARRA Funding for Weatherization Training...

Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia are among the 27 states selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding “to develop and expand weatherization training centers across the country.” Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman commented: “A well-trained workforce will be a crucial part of America's clean energy economy in the years ahead. These investments in efficiency training programs will help build a foundation for long-term growth in America. Energy efficiency improves the competitiveness of our economy, benefits the environment, and puts Americans back to work.” The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), created in 1976, is a federally funded, state administered Department of Energy program that seeks to assist low-income families in permanently reducing their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. On average, families whose homes have been weatherized see a savings of about $350 a year, depending on fuel prices. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $5 billion was allocated to support the provision of weatherization services nationally, including trainings and equipment purchases. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Housing Corporation will receive $996,000 to expand the state’s weatherization program and establish a comprehensive training center in Frankfort. Ohio’s Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development received $1 million in support for expanding training facilities throughout the southeastern Ohio in particular. Virginia received two grants for a total of $1, 981,000 to support training programs in Hampton and Christiansburg through the Green Jobs Alliance and the Community Housing Partners Coalition respectively. The...