Bingaman, Solis Tout $13M Boost for NM Unemployment Insurance, Tour ABQ Job Corps Center

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today joined U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to tour the Albuquerque Job Corps Center and to announce $13 million in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization funds for New Mexico. New Mexico can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits, to administer its unemployment insurance program or to deliver employment services, according to a press release. Funding is being provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Unfortunately, many New Mexicans continue to struggle to find jobs in today’s economy. The funding announced today by Secretary Solis will go a long way toward helping them make ends meet while they continue to seek employment,” Bingaman said in the release.

The unemployment rate in New Mexico increased in May to 6.5%, up from 5.8% in April, although we still lag behind the national unemployment rate of 9.4%. For Albuquerque unemployment rate was 7% in May, up from 4% in May 2008 and up from 6.2% in April.

Bingaman and Solis also toured Job Corps classrooms and met with students to talk about how the center is helping them. Additionally, they toured the new Eagle Wing Hall -- the first Job Corps facility in the nation to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliancy. LEED is a Green Building Rating System that provides a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.