April 07, 2021

Manchin, Capito Announce Funding to Help At-Risk Workers Overcome Barriers to Employment

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $100,000 to Workforce West Virginia to expand their fidelity bonding program. This funding was made available through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and will be used to support employers that hire workers considered “at risk” due to prior involvement in the criminal justice system, as well as those in recovery for substance abuse.

“Many West Virginians who have prior involvement in the criminal justice system or have struggled with a substance use disorder may face barriers reentering the workforce or securing good-paying jobs. The fidelity bonding program supports businesses and employers who hire these workers and help them get back on their feet. I am pleased the Department of Labor is investing in Workforce West Virginia to expand this program and I will continue to advocate for funding and resources to support workers and West Virginians in need,” Senator Manchin said.

“A stable job and a reliable paycheck are crucial pieces in helping individuals get back on their feet and involved in their communities. This program creates an opening for deserving West Virginians at no cost to our employers and helps to expand opportunities, not decrease them. I’m pleased to see Workforce West Virginia receive funding to expand their fidelity bonding program, and look forward to the impact it will make across our state,” Senator Capito said.

BACKGROUND:

Created by DOL in 1966 and administered by its Employment and Training Administration, the Federal Bonding Program allows states to issue free-of-charge fidelity bonds to employers. The program provides employers with a bond of no less than $5,000 for each eligible new hire, and allows issuance of up to $25,000 in bonds for each individual, as incentives for employers to hire these applicants. Bonds last for at least six months and protect employers against losses the bonded employee’s fraudulent or dishonest acts might cause.