Mississippi Set to Receive $692k in Workforce Investment Act Incentive Grant Awards
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June 10, 2013
Jackson, Miss. - The U.S. Department of Labor, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, announced that Mississippi is eligible to receive Workforce Investment Act (WIA) incentive grant awards.
Mississippi is one of only 15 states named to receive these funds. In order to become eligible for these incentive grant awards, a state must have exceeded its performance levels for WIA (Title I) and adult education (Title II) in Federal Program Year 2011. Mississippi is slated to receive $692,377 to be used for innovative workforce programs. The grant will be made to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES).
According to MDES Executive Director Mark Henry, “This is an impressive success for Mississippi’s workforce development efforts.” He goes on to say that, “This announcement is evidence that the Mississippi workforce system is getting results for people who need training for the good jobs that are available here.”
“Already this year, we’ve worked together to welcome nearly $540 million in private sector investment – that’s more than half a billion dollars in corporate investment in Mississippi in the first five months of 2013,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “With this investment comes needed jobs for Mississippians and without question, our state’s greatest asset is our highly-skilled, dedicated workforce. I appreciate the work of MDES, our universities and community colleges in delivering robust training programs for our workforce.”
The impressive performance results that were achieved include:
- 59 percent of unemployed adults who entered the WIA program were able to find employment within three months of completing the program.
- 80 percent of laid-off workers who found employment within three months after completing the program were still employed nine months later.
- 80 percent of youth participants attained a credential or diploma within six months of program completion.
MDES will be responsible for the distribution of oversight of the incentive grant award monies.
