The Washington state Employment Security Department has distributed nearly $41 million in federal funds to 12 local workforce development councils to help workers boost their skills and find jobs, the department said Thursday.
Of that total, the nonprofit Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, serving Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, received $4 million.
The workforce development councils use the funds to provide counseling, skills assessments, job-search assistance and training to job seekers, low-income adults and disadvantaged young people.
The funding for July 2014 through June 2015 comes from the federal Department of Labor. Services are delivered through the WorkSource employment and training system, which includes more than 60 centers, affiliates and connection sites.