Amador County - Amador County is among a number of California regions to benefit from $15 million in job training grants allocated to assist regions hardest hit by the economic downturn. Governor Schwarzenegger's office announced the grants just as California’s unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 percent, its highest level in 14 years. “I have urged the Legislature to pass an economic stimulus package that includes workplace reforms to help keep jobs in California and ways to speed up the release of billions of in-the-pipeline infrastructure and construction dollars into our economy,” said Schwarzenegger in a statement released Saturday.

He also announced $18.4 million in job grants targeted for veterans. A portion of the $15 million will go towards select areas impacted by major layoffs and business closures. The majority will go to Workforce Investment Areas, or WIAs, in regions with the highest unemployment rates. The Motherlode WIA, which serves Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties will get 75,669 dollars. The Sacramento WIA receives 546,356 dollars. The Golden Sierra WIA, serving El Dorado, Alpine and Placer counties, will get 135,070 dollars. “These grants will provide education, training, and job placement assistance for thousands of Californians,” Schwarzenegger said. The Governor said he was pleased that President Bush signed an extension of unemployment benefits that his administration had pushed so hard for, adding, “so that Californians out of work can continue to receive their benefits through the holiday season.” Schwarzenegger reiterated what he sees as an immediate need to shore up our state's Unemployment Insurance Fund. “I have proposed a plan to ensure this important Fund continues to be a safety net for unemployed Californians and for our economy, and I urge the Legislature to pass it,” he said. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).