Governor Kaine Highlights Coordinated Economic Relief Efforts, New Unemployment Express Offices

Press Release

Governor Kaine Highlights Coordinated Economic Relief Efforts, New Unemployment Express Offices

- Economic Crisis Strike Force working to aid displaced workers and new veterans -

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today highlighted the Commonwealth's ongoing efforts to address the impact of the current economic downturn on Virginians. Virginia is continuing to open "Unemployment Express Offices" to serve displaced workers across the Commonwealth, and has formed an Economic Crisis Strike Force to coordinate state-wide response.

"It is our obligation to respond to the ongoing recession and the resulting layoffs with all of the tools we have in government," Governor Kaine said. "Through the Strike Force, we are coordinating a wide variety of services to Virginians in the area of economic development, social services, unemployment insurance and job search assistance."

The Economic Crisis Strike Force has been meeting since mid-February to respond to the widespread job loss experienced in all regions of the state due to the global economic recession. The Governor has the statutory authority to establish an Economic Crisis Strike Force based on certain conditions such as rapidly rising unemployment, shutdown of a major employer in a region, or other economic crisis situations which will adversely affect the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Governor Kaine signed the strike force legislation into law in March 2006.

As part of its coordinated efforts to assist job seekers, the Strike Force has been rapidly deploying all assets available to job seekers and employers during these challenging times. The Virginia Employment Commission has opened three Unemployment Express offices in particularly hard hit areas of the state, and will open another three in the coming weeks.

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