Employment and job training services for laid-off timber workers in Humboldt County will be available through a state grant of nearly $1 million.

The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency’s Employment Development Department issued the $982,000 grant to assist unemployed Humboldt County timber workers in finding new employment.

“This grant is an investment not only in these workers but in the future of the entire local economy,” said EDD Director Patrick Henning. “Recent layoffs in the timber industry have increased the need for new training programs. This grant responds to that need by giving these unemployed workers the opportunity to learn new skills and quickly move into careers in growing industries.”

According to an EDD news release, the Humboldt County region has several growing industries with significant labor demands, such as diversified health care, manufacturing, information technology, and building and systems construction and maintenance. These industries typically require knowledge and skills not usually found in the timber industry.

Matching these workers’ skills with emerging industry demand will require intensive vocational counseling services in order to achieve re-employment, the release stated.

A full array of core, intensive and supportive services will be provided, including educational and occupational assessment, case management, job search activities, child care, transportation and relocation services, the release continued.

The $982,000 grant is awarded to the Humboldt County Workforce Investment Board. Funding for the programs is drawn from the governor’s 25 percent portion of dislocated worker funds from Title I of the federal Workforce Investment Act and is under the administrative authority of the state EDD.

For more information about this project, phone the Humboldt County Workforce Investment Board at 707-445-7745.