LOS ANGELES (BNO NEWS) — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on Thursday announced $78,410,000 in grant funds through the National Farmworker Jobs Program to provide training and employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

Solis made the announcement during her visit to Olvera Street in Los Angeles. The funds are authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which is designed to counter the impact of chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers who depend primarily on agricultural labor jobs.

The National Farmworker Jobs Program provides funding to community-based organizations and public agencies that assist farmworkers and their families in attaining greater economic stability. Farmworkers are assisted in acquiring new job skills in occupations that offer higher wages and more stable employment. Workers may also upgrade their existing agricultural job skills.

In addition to skills training, the program provides support services that help farmworkers participate in training programs or retain their agriculture employment.

“Farmworkers do so much for families and for the nation’s economy as a whole. These hard working members of our community deserve our support,” Solis said. “Today’s grants are an opportunity to help these workers as they upgrade their skills to improve their chances of advancement in their current employment or seek opportunities in other industries.”

Services provided to farmworkers include skills assessments, job search assistance, basic education remediation and case management. Workers may also access occupational skills and training, including on-the-job training. In addition, the program provides services such as child care, health care and transportation that help workers keep their current jobs or successfully complete training programs.

Of the 50 states, 48 each have one grantee. California has five grantees. There are no grantees in Alaska. National Farmworker Jobs Program grants are awarded every two years. Today’s grants are continuations of 2009 funding.

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