Funds will be available for regions losing bases

WASHINGTON – The Labor Department said Tuesday it will provide up to $1 million in planning funds for communities that may lose civilian jobs due to military base closings.

Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary for employment and training administration, sent a letter to state workforce agencies outlining federal grants eligible to help communities plan for transition should bases in their areas end up on the final list of closings. DeRocco said in past rounds of base closings, “communities which undertook effective and timely planning successfully transitioned from a defense to a non-defense economy.”

The Pentagon released its recommendations for closure and realignment May 13. An independent commission is reviewing the list and may make changes. The list then goes to President Bush before it is sent to Congress for approval.

DeRocco said the Labor Department believes the time between the recommendations and final congressional approval “is the most effective time to plan for the services necessary to assist affected workers and communities.”

The letter says the grants should be awarded by June 30, and only communities affected by the Pentagon’s recommended list are eligible.

The department recommends states use the money for training potentially displaced workers, staffing transition efforts, hiring consultants to deal with local agencies and developing long-range economic goals.

Though the limit for the first round of grants is $1 million per community, the department says more money will be eligible once Congress has made the final decision, probably in November. DeRocco said the awards will be granted based on the number and size of facilities affected, the potential economic impact and the ability of the work force already in place to deal with the transition.