All reports associated with the ARRA effort will be posted by the agency as they become available.

PROJECT LIST

All projects involving ARRA funding will be posted.

BIDS/JOBS

The CT Labor Department will post employment opportunities when available as a result of ARRA funding.

PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES RECEIVING ARRA FUNDS

Unemployment Programs

• Week of March 7 - March 12, the agency issued 171,536 benefit checks totaling $59,153,552.
   

• FAC to date: 
  Additional $25 on every unemployment check - Funds provided to claimants through 3/15/10: $195,290,406.60
  Federal Additional Compensation (FAC). Under federal legislation, the $25 stimulus payments are temporary and will be provided to indiviudals who establish new claims for unemployment before April 5, 2010. Payments will be phased out on October 5, 2010. Since the additional $25 payments are entirely funded by the federal government, neither employers nor the state are charged for this additional benefit.
  
  Total FAC paid this week: $4,265,325
   

• EUC08 to date:
  Federal Emergency Compensation (EUC08) - Funds provided to claimants through 3/15/10: $1,217,221,391.80*
  Provides a total of up to 53 weeks of federal unemployment insurance benefits to qualified claimants who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits. The 53 weeks are provided under four separate Tiers of the EUC08 program, with Tiers 3 and 4 dependent on the Total Unemployment Rate, as determined by USDOL
  
  *Note: The weekly reporting number above notes all of EUC08 payments made to claimants since EUC08 was enacted in 2008. The EUC08 payments attributable to ARRA legislation are only those tied to EUC08 claims initiated March 29 and later. That amount, reported on a monthly basis, is $586,853,537 as of 2/28/10.
   

• EB to date:
  Federal Extended Benefits (EB) - Funds provided to claimants through 3/15/10: $92,683,532.22*
  Provides 20 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to qualified claimants who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits and 53 weeks of federal EUC08. EB is normally funded by 50% state funds and 50% federal funds, but under stimulus legislation, currently these benefits are 100% federally funded. Government and municipal employers and federally-recognized Indian tribes, however, continue to be charged 100% for EB.
  
  *Note: For ARRA reporting purposes, 50% of the EB payments are considered as stimulus funds. That amount, reported on a monthly basis, is $43,540,282 as of 2/28/10.
   

• Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (UIMA) - $87,811,338
  Federal money provided to states for the Trust Fund. Connecticut was eligible to receive $87 million by meeting certain requirements, and received the first 1/3 of this amount ($29.3 million) in early 2009 and received the additional $58.6 million in May 2009. The $87 million has been deposited to the Trust Fund and will be used to pay benefits. The state can appropriate some of the funding for administrative needs, including claims processing.
   

• UI Administrative – Special Federal Transfer - $6,272,238
  This one-time transfer from the federal Employment Security Account (ESSA) is for administrative costs associated with the state’s unemployment insurance operations.
   

• Expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Act Assistance (ATAA) Programs
  The stimulus bill expands federal funding for workers who have been displaced in the trade and manufacturing sectors due to what is commonly referred to as outsourcing or off-shoring. With a goal to improve employability for those likely to need retraining and, in some situations, relocation, funding for the Trade Act Assistance (TAA) program has been increased nationwide by 160% to $575 million per fiscal year. The increase in Trade Act funding and program parameters makes training, health care and reemployment benefits more accessible and flexible. The bill also reauthorized TAA programs through Dec. 31, 2010. To apply for Trade Act services and benefits, a group of affected workers must first file a petition with the U.S. Department of Labor's Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance requesting certification as workers adversely impacted by foreign trade. If certified, each worker in the group may then apply for individual services and benefits. The Connecticut Department of Labor often works with companies to assist them with the completion and filing of the petition. Additional information on the program and how to apply for assistance can be found on the following web site: www.doleta.gov/tradeact/benefits.cfm
   

• Taxation of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
  Currently, unemployment insurance benefits are fully taxable. Under the new bill, the first $2,400 of benefits are free from federal taxes for tax year 2009. This will provide additional cash to unemployed residents who are living on a reduced income until new employment can be found.

Employment Programs

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides nearly $35 million to enhance and provide employment services to a variety of job seekers and those collecting unemployment benefits. The Labor Department provides approximately 75% of the WIA funds for local employment and training programs to the state's five Workforce Investment Boards. Funds are allocated by the federal government as follows:

Activity Descriptions and Expenditures:

• Workforce Investment Act ARRA Funds - $30,303,942
  Expenditures through 11/30/09 - $13,620,101.42
  
  Under federal guidelines, these funds have been provided for the following employment programs: Youth Activities, Adult Activities and Dislocated Workers.
   
  • Youth Activities - $11,034,723
    Any youth employment activities under the Workforce Investment Act are allowed for the Recovery Act funds. States were encouraged to try to use these the funds to create summer employment opportunities for youth, with the age of participants being increased to a maximum of 24 years old. In Connecticut, approximately 4,000 youth, ages 17-24, were provided with summer employment in jobs ranging from administrative positions to employment in nursing homes and museums. Funds were provided to the state's five Regional Workforce Investment Boards for local job placement. As part of the summer jobs program, more than two dozen youth helped spruce up state parks and beaches under the Governor’s CT Conservation Corps pilot program.
     
    • Worksites for ARRA-Funded 2009 Youth Summer Employment Program (PDF, 174KB)
    • Workforce Investment Act ARRA Summer of 2009 Local Workforce Board Sub-Contractors (PDF, 25KB)
       
  • Adult Activities - $4,385,149
    Assist adult workers who have lost their jobs and need specific assistance, including training or educational assistance, to find new jobs. Focus is to train people for jobs that need to be filled, with emphasis on those jobs in high-growth industries, green occupations, and in the fields of health and education. To support this effort, services include data-driven career counseling, occupational skills training, on-the-job training (including registered apprenticeship), skills upgrades and adult education and literacy training.
     
  • Dislocated Workers - $14,884,070
    Assist workers who have lost their jobs and need specific reemployment assistance, including job search assistance and training, to find new employment. Many dislocated workers are finding that while they have experience, they don't have networking and job search skills. Funding is being used to help those workers with résumé development, along with interview and networking skills. Services include data-driven career counseling, occupational skills training, on-the-job training (including registered apprenticeship), skills upgrades and adult education and literacy training.
     
• Employment Services - $4,449,594
  Under federal guidelines, these funds have been provided for the following reemployment programs: Wagner Peyser Activities and Reemployment for UI Claimants. Services include assisting workers who have lost their jobs and need specific reemployment assistance, including job search assistance and training, to find new employment. Many dislocated workers are finding that while they have experience, they don't have networking and job search skills. Funding is being used to help those workers with résumé development, along with interview and networking skills. Services include data-driven career counseling, occupational skills training, on-the-job training (including registered apprenticeship), skills upgrades and adult education and literacy training.
   
  • Wagner Peyser Activities - $1,668,598
    Expenditures through 11/30/09 - $1,064,453.48
     
  • Reemployment for UI Claimants - $2,780,996
    Expenditures through 11/30/09 - $761,967.72
     
• Employer Programs
   

QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA

LINKS

State recovery site – www.recovery.ct.gov
United States Department of Labor Web Site -  http://www.dol.gov/recovery/

Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office