WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced an $816,929 grant to assist 496 dislocated workers in Oregon. The grant, awarded to Oregon's Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, will ensure continued assistance for workers affected by layoffs at Hewlett Packard Company in Corvallis.

"These laid off workers need access to skills training and career planning to keep them competitive in the workplace," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This grant of over $800,000 will provide these Oregonians with employment services that can help them access new career opportunities."

This grant will provide services to workers certified as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) as a result of mass layoffs at Hewlett Packard Company. On June 10, 2005, the state was awarded a $503,549 grant to assist 149 of the workers laid off initially at the Corvallis facility.

Workers covered under the grant will be able to access services including individual counseling, career planning and employment development. Training for these individuals is available through the TAA program.

The TAA program assists individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports from, or shifts in production to, foreign countries. The goal of the TAA program is to help trade-affected workers return to suitable employment as quickly as possible.

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