PRESS RELEASE 11/5/03

Walden Helps Secure Emergency $1.1 Million Labor
Department Grant to Assist Laid-Off Klamath Falls Workers

Walden wrote support letter for emergency funds to retrain 151 workers affected by downsizing of Sykes Enterprises, Inc. in Klamath Falls; Walden informed of grant announcement by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) today applauded the announcement of a $1.1 million National Emergency Grant by the Department of Labor to provide retraining and reemployment assistance to 151 workers in Klamath Falls who were affected by downsizing at Sykes Enterprises, Inc.  Walden wrote to the Labor Department on October 9, 2003, in support of the grant application by the Klamath-Lake Employment Training Institute.  Walden was notified of the grant approval by a personal phone call from U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.

"This is terrific news for the hard-working people whose lives were turned upside down by the downsizing at Sykes Enterprises," said Walden.  "With Oregon's highest-in-the-nation unemployment rate, it's incumbent upon the federal government to do everything it can to help get Oregonians back to work while providing a strong safety net to help them through tough times.  Events like this are devastating to communities, and timely investments of this sort can make all the difference in finding good-paying jobs for those who need them.  No issue is more important to me than helping to secure jobs for the people I represent.  The residents of Klamath County have proven themselves to be extremely resilient and will utilize these critical funds well.  Their needs are compelling, and I was proud to help them in this matter.  I also want to commend the folks at the Klamath-Lake Employment Training Institute, who responded immediately and effectively to this development and certainly earned their pay looking out for the working people of the region."

The grant will be administered by the Oregon State Board of Education, Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development.  Of the $1.1 million grant, $280,912 will be released initially, with the remainder being distributed after June 2004.  The funds will provide employment-related assistance such as assessment, career planning, employment development, remedial education, classroom training, job training, relocation assistance, on-the-job training and support services.

In his letter to the Department of Labor, Walden wrote, "The Klamath Basin is still recovering from a devastating economic blow sustained in 2001 when the irrigation water was shut off to almost 200,000 acres of farmland.  The direct impact of that event on the farmers and ancillary businesses is still being felt today.  The layoff at Sykes certainly compounds the damage already sustained.  Klamath-Lake Employment Training Institute demonstrated in that time of crisis that it could effectively respond to a serious situation with professionalism and dispatch.  I am confident that they will achieve significant results when this grant application is approved."

TO VIEW A COPY OF WALDEN'S GRANT SUPPORT LETTER, CLICK HERE: http://walden.house.gov/press/releases/2003/10Oct/SykesTello100903.pdf.

Congressman Walden represents the Second Congressional District of Oregon, which includes the 20 counties of central, southern and eastern Oregon.  He is a Deputy Whip and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Committee on Resources.