Labor Dept. Awards $11 Million In Unemployment Insurance Modernization Incentive Funds To West Virginia

Sept. 16, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $11,058,877 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to West Virginia.

This money will help pay the unemployment benefits funded by the state’s unemployment compensation trust fund.

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"These funds will help offset the expense of unemployment benefits for West Virginia’s employers," said Manchin. "This is another example of our efforts to provide relief to both small and large businesses and workers in the current economy.”

West Virginia qualified for a portion of its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds by allowing workers to use their most recent earnings when applying for benefits.

"Approval of this funding indicates that WorkForce West Virginia has been effective and responsible in the appropriation and spending of Recovery Act benefits,” said Russell L. Fry, acting executive director.

"West Virginia recognizes the importance of providing an economic safety net to workers who have recently entered the workforce and lost their jobs through no fault of their own," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support, and the state is making the right decision to help individuals who are seeking new careers and might not otherwise qualify for unemployment insurance benefits."

The Recovery Act made a total of $7 billion available in UI modernization incentive payments to states that include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs. Each state can qualify for a share of those funds by showing that its law includes those provisions.

More information about WorkForce West Virginia is available online at www.WorkForceWV.org.

Source: West Virginia Governor