$44M coming for job training

The Clarion-Ledger, 3/22/9

Mississippi officials hope to parlay $44.3 million earmarked for training programs in the economic stimulus package into job opportunities for the state’s residents.

The money comes as thousands of Mississippians are receiving pink slips and unemployment in January was 9.2 percent.

“(Stimulus money) would be used to let people pay for college courses, apprenticeships, cover letters, resumes, interview skills,” said U.S. Labor Department spokeswoman Peggy Abrahamson.

Exactly how the money will be used, what it will be spent on specifically and how it will be disbursed statewide has not been determined. Federal officials only last week sent out guidelines on how the money can be spent.