You may be eligible for Financial Assistance
to attend a career-training program!
In 2017, deadly wildfires swept through Northern California, leaving devastation in their path. More than 40 lives were lost, and over 5,700 structures were destroyed. Many businesses were affected as well; nearly 50 wineries in Napa County’s wine country were damaged by the fire. Wineries were not the only businesses lost. Sweet T’s Restaurant & Bar, Cricklewood Restaurant, and the historic Stornetta Dairy were all destroyed, as were a number of chain restaurants and stores. As a result, many local workers lost their jobs.
Unfortunately, it is likely to take several years for the area to fully recover from this environmental and economic devastation, and some businesses may never reopen. The area’s residents, however, still need jobs to support their families and pay their bills. Thankfully, these workers have support from the U.S. Department of Labor, where employment assistance is available through Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). The TAA is available to Napa and Sonoma County residents or employees that lost their jobs in these areas due to the wildfires, and can be used to pay for career training programs.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) was created in 1974 by the U.S. government through the Trade Act. The TAA was originally designed to provide financial support to American workers who lost their jobs due to their employers relocating overseas. In 2002, the program became the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act, modernized and expanded so that it applied to more workers in a variety of other circumstances. In its current form, the TAA Program provides adversely affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources, and support necessary to (re)build skills for future jobs. The TAA Program invests $450 million each year in training funds to serve American workers. Now made available to California residents who lost their jobs as a result of the wildfires, this program makes it possible for recipients to receive a stipend, or if the individual is interested in changing careers, the entirety of education costs may be covered.
If you lost your job due to the California wildfires, NCE wants to help you get back up on your feet and find work. The Financial Aid department at National Career Education (NCE) can help you apply for the TAA benefit, and identify other sources of financial aid assistance as well. At NCE, you can begin a training program that can put you on your way to a successful, rewarding new career. NCE offers hands-on, practical training for in-demand careers such as HVAC technicians, Electricians, Medical Assistants, Optical/Optometric Assistants, and Medical Billers and Coders. NCE can help you establish yourself in a new career that pays well and offers you the opportunity to help rebuild your community.
If you have been affected by the California wildfires, we want you to know that at NCE, our thoughts are with you, and we are here to help you get on your way to recovery through a new, promising career. Contact NCE at (916) 969-4900, and let our experienced staff guide you through the process of filing a petition and obtaining assistance through the TAA. With NCE, you can make a difference!
For more information about Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), available through the U.S. Department of Labor, and other employment assistance available through the Federal government, visit https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/. Or, go to CareerOneStop.org, the Department of Labor’s resource center for employment assistance and training, and enter your zip code to find your local employment center.