WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a one million dollar grant to assist Virginia airline workers affected by the closure of Independence Air, Inc., a subsidiary of FLYi, Inc., located at Dulles (Airport), Virginia. Approximately 778 workers will be served by the grant which was awarded to the Virginia Employment Commission.

"Independence Air's closure has caused hundreds of workers to look for new jobs for which they need upgraded certification and training," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This grant will enable these workers to access the specialized training they need to access new career opportunities."

On Jan. 5, Independence Air shut down all operations and terminated nearly all of its employees. From Nov. 8, 2005, through Jan. 9, 2006, the Commonwealth conducted eight Rapid Response meetings with company officials and workers impacted by the closure to create awareness about the workforce services and programs available to them.

Services provided by the grant announced today will include upgrade training for airline workers and Boeing 737 aircraft certifications for former Independence Air, Inc. pilots in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and West Virginia. Training vendors that offer the necessary certifications are located in California, Florida and Texas.

All activities related to serving former Independence Air, Inc. employees will be coordinated by the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board.

National Emergency Grants are part of the Secretary's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet certain qualifications. For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.