Federal help continues for displaced TBW employees

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday a $707,096 National Emergency Grant increment to continue providing services to about 600 workers affected by the collapse of the Taylor, Bean and Whitaker Mortgage Corp. and its subsidiary companies.

The release is the second and final disbursement from a $1.66-million grant awarded a year ago with $954,077 released initially to serve displaced TBW workers in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties.

The grant, administrated by Workforce Connection, provides training scholarships, support services, and relocation and employment-related assistance.

“We are pleased to get this second disbursement to continue providing these services and assistance,” said Kathleen Woodring, Workforce Connection’s chief operating officer.

The final release of NEG assistance caps an outpouring of support triggered by the August 2009 close of the TBW corporate office. Workforce Connection launched a major outplacement effort along with state and local elected officials, Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, nonprofit organizations, private businesses, Workforce Florida, and the Department of Labor.

“As with all other members of the nation’s workforce who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, it is important that impacted mortgage industry workers in Florida get our support,” Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said Wednesday. “Ensuring these workers can access the training and employment services needed to enter new jobs in promising industries is the right thing to do for them, their families and our economy as a whole.”

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor’s discretionary fund and are intended to temporarily expand the service capacity of Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker training and employment programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events which cause significant job losses. NEGs generally provide resources to states and local workforce investment boards to quickly reemploy laid-off workers by offering training to increase occupational skills.