Labor

The Ignite Institute will create 415 jobs

November 16, 2009 -- FAIRFAX – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the creation of The Ignite Institute, a nonprofit medical research institute established by Inova Health System and Dr. Dietrich Stephan, a recognized leader in the field of molecular medicine.

The Institute is the first entity built around the application of personalized medicine innovation in the community health setting. The project's $200 million investment in Fairfax County will create 415 jobs.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Harrisburg – Pennsylvania Secretary of Administration Naomi Wyatt today provided details on how the state’s workforce will be further reduced due to budget cuts. The administration will begin furloughing 319 employees today.

“It is with deep and sincere regret that we announce these furloughs. This administration has been cutting costs and improving efficiency since 2003, but the sharp decline in state revenues left us with no other options,” Wyatt said. “While it was originally thought that up to 1,000 furloughs might be needed, the Governor was able to preserve as many jobs as possible by working to maintain spending at $27.8 billion and developing creative cost savings solutions.”    » read more »

Nov. 16, 2009 -- (Salem) – “Today’s employment report shows that Oregon’s unemployment rate is starting to level off and stabilize, which is promising news. This week we will also receive the next quarterly state revenue forecast, which will provide another snapshot about the state of Oregon’s economy.

“Today’s employment report and the forecast later this week are critical indicators for state and local governments as we continue to budget prudently and plan for a long, slow economic recovery.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- DUBAI, U.A.E -- Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue welcomed three economic development announcements made today from the Dubai Airshow that continue to strengthen Georgia’s reputation as a global center for the aviation industry.

“Each of these three announcements illustrate a key aspect of our economic development strategy – location of a new U.S. headquarters in Georgia, an existing company expanding its current workforce and an Atlanta-based business selling its products to overseas customers,” Governor Perdue said. “    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) today announced that Milwaukee will receive $5,839,100 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Recovery Act. These funds are intended to create local green jobs and help improve energy efficiency in communities across the country by reducing energy use and fossil fuel emissions.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Paul Hodes announced his support for legislation that would make health insurance more affordable for unemployed families in New Hampshire. Currently, unemployed individuals and families receive 9 months of COBRA premium assistance under the jobs and recovery plan that passed earlier this year, but this assistance is beginning to run out this month.

Congressman Hodes is a cosponsor of H.R. 3966, which would extend this assistance for another 6 months. The premium assistance helps New Hampshire families to afford health insurance while they continue to search for a job.    » read more »

Sends Letter to the President Urging Action

November 16, 2009 -- Representative Mike Capuano today called on President Barack Obama to use the remaining funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to create jobs.

In a letter to the President, Rep. Capuano noted that the unemployment rate is at a "26 year high" and asked the President to "direct the remaining TARP funds towards projects that put more Americans back to work." With $210 billion in TARP funds currently unspent, and another $50 billion expected to be repaid in the next year, Rep. Capuano urged that these funds should be used for job creation.

"TARP was established to address the financial crisis," state Rep. Capuano in his letter. "I do not believe we can reasonably say that the job of TARP is complete."    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Department of Transportation has jumpstarted more than 10,000 transportation projects across America thanks to its swift allocation of Recovery Act dollars. As of this week, state agencies reported a total of 10,041 approved    » read more »

ARRA Watershed Project Creates Jobs in Local Economy

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 – San Jose, Calif., is using $18 Million in Recovery Act funds to rebuild a flood control structure that will protect homes and businesses from the threat of disaster, as well as stimulate the local economy by adding as many as 700 jobs. Watch this Recovery Act success story video at: www.youtube.com/usda#p/a/u/0/FFE8WGF5YW8 .    » read more »

Washington, DC--Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) released the following statement of Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger on President Obama's call for a jobs forum in December:

Said Burger, "We are now 22 months into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. In those 22 months we have lost 8.1 million jobs, and 17.5 percent of the workforce - 27.4 million workers - are unemployed, underemployed, or have given up looking for work. The scale of our problems is simply staggering.

"We need swift, bold action to create millions of jobs. In order to build long-term sustainable economic growth, we need a comprehensive approach that deals with our immediate jobs crisis and makes strategic investments to create the jobs that Americans will need in the future.    » read more »

Dobbs No Longer Fanning the Flames of Hate at CNN

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC--In response to yesterday's announcement that Lou Dobbs is resigning from his position as anchor on CNN effective immediately, SEIU issued the following statement:

"Today we are seeing what has always made America great--when a group of committed activists join forces, they can change the course of history.

"Night after night, Lou Dobbs abused his position of trust as a "news anchor" at CNN to attack immigrant workers and communities with no attention to facts or balance. His kind of divisive propaganda is harmful to our society, and should have no place on a responsible television network.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- Corpus Christi—The United Steelworkers Union (USW) is asking why elected officials from Corpus Christi did not appear at a community forum Nov. 11 to discuss the dangers of using hydrogen fluoride (HF) in area refineries and its alternatives.

“Their failure to appear at this forum is especially disheartening since a serious refinery accident in July that involved a fire and HF release left one worker fighting for his life,” said Jim Lefton, sub-director of USW District 13. “Residents around the refineries wondered why city and county officials deserted them.”    » read more »

JDIG and One North Carolina Fund Grants Help Company Add 259 Jobs

11/13/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that international biopharmaceutical company Talecris Biotherapeutics is expanding its manufacturing facilities near Clayton, creating 259 new jobs over the next seven years and investing $268.7 million. The announcement was made possible in part by state Job Development Investment Grant and One North Carolina Fund awards and is contingent upon approval of local incentives.

“The competition for these types of jobs is fierce,” Perdue said. “The fact that Talecris has found the tools it needs to succeed in North Carolina shows why this state’s business climate is consistently named as the best in the nation.”    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento) addressed a large crowd of students, faculty and community members at the Sacramento State Alumni Center, covering a variety of federal issues and outlining her priorities of the last year. Rep. Matsui also gave an update on the local impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is making the largest alternative energy investments in our nation’s history, and helping to propel Sacramento as a clean-tech capital. Matsui’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:    » read more »

12 November 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the nine months since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law, rural communities across the country have found the federal bureaucracy is a serious obstacle to their receiving funding. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick is fighting to address this challenge and ensure the Recovery Act works as effectively as possible for our small towns. She is leading a national group of Members of Congress in sending a letter to Vice-President Joe Biden today, asking him to explain what is being done to assist rural America.    » read more »