Contact: Linda Hutnak (401) 462-8793
Dislocated Worker Unit
March 29, 2005

CRANSTON – The Department of Labor and Training has been awarded a National Emergency Grant (NEG) of $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor to support HomeGoods employees who will lose their jobs when the Distribution Center in Mansfield, MA closes. Layoffs will be completed July 1st. Director Adelita S. Orefice said, “This grant represents significant support for these Rhode Islanders. These funds will go a long way toward helping us to get people back to work.”

National Emergency Grants are discretionary funds which are used for the retraining and reemployment of dislocated workers. Nearly 500 former HomeGoods employees are Rhode Island residents. Eighty percent are non-English-speaking or have limited English-speaking abilities. English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes will be offered and bi-lingual job developers will be made available to the 488 affected individuals at area netWORKri Career Centers, in addition to occupational training.

There are six netWORKri Career Centers across the state ready to assist any job seeker, whether the goal is a first job, a better job, or a career change. Customers can access a resource library, personal computers, the Internet, fax and copy machines at no charge to help in their job search or participate in peer support groups and networking sessions. For more information, call 1-888-616-JOBS or go to www.netWORKri.org.

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The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training offers a wide array of employment and training services to both the general public and to individuals with unusual barriers to employment. DLT is ready to assist any job seeker, whether the goal is a first job, a better job, or a career change. Rhode Island's work force is protected through the enforcement of labor laws, prevailing wage rates, and work place health and safety standards. Temporary income support is available to unemployed, sick, or injured workers and a comprehensive rehabilitation program is available to those injured on the job.DLT is dedicated to the growth and competitiveness of Rhode Island industry, administering a variety of training grants, tax credits, and apprenticeship programs to help employers. Economic indicators and labor market information are available for long-range planning. The Agency engages in active outreach, helping large and small employers retain their best workers or retrain their existing work force. At no cost to the employer, DLT will also screen job applicants, post job vacancies, and help businesses institute cost-sharing programs that can avert layoffs.For more information on the innovative programs and services available to all Rhode Islanders at the Department of Labor and Training, please call (401) 462-8000 or visit our web site at www.dlt.ri.gov

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
TDD (401) 462-8006