Grassley Announces Funds to Assist Iowa Farmers


? Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that Iowa Workforce Development in Davenport will receive up to $888,250 inThe project will provide re-employment assistance for approximately 175 of an estimated 2,273 farm families who have been dislocated from their family farms or who are no longer earning enough from the farm to support themselves and their families. Participants will be provided outreach, recruitment, assessment, counseling, job search assistance, job development, job placement, basic skills training, classroom training and supportive services. National Emergency Grant funds to assist dislocated farmers, their families and farm hands throughout the state. Initially, $329,500 will be released for immediate use.

Grassley, the Senate's only working family farmer, has been in contact with Department of Labor officials in recent weeks concerning this grant. He sent a letter on Dec. 2 requesting an expeditious decision given the urgent need for these funds.

"Many Iowa's farmers have been severely hurt by the low commodity prices. I'm glad that the Department of Labor responded to my request and provided this needed funding for farmers and their families who have been forced out of business by the downturn in agricultural prices," Grassley said.

Hawkeye Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College and Matura Action Corporation, Inc. will operate the project.

National Emergency Grants provide supplemental dislocated worker funds to states, local boards and other eligible entities in order to respond to the needs of dislocated workers and communities affected by major economic dislocations and other worker dislocation events that can't be met through other methods.