ATLANTA – State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond today praised the President and Secretary of Labor for certifying the release of $220.3 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Georgia.

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced today that Georgia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by adopting a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers, and people who are upgrading their skills.

“I thank President Obama, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and the U.S. Department of Labor for their quick response to our request for the additional funds,” said Thurmond. “This money will pay unemployment insurance benefits to jobless Georgians, protect the solvency of Georgia’s unemployment insurance trust fund, and help maintain low taxes for Georgia employers.”

In making the announcement, Labor Secretary Solis said “Georgia has made important updates to its UI program to better meet the needs of the 21st century workforce. The UI modernization provisions adopted in Georgia help unemployed workers who have entered the workforce recently, work part time or need training to become re-employed receive the benefits they need and deserve."