New Jersey has landed a $29.4 million federal grant to help displaced Atlantic City casino workers affected by recent closings, officials said Tuesday.
The National Emergency Grant through the U.S. Department of Labor will be used for training programs to help the workers learn skills for jobs in new fields.
Atlantic City lost four of its 12 casinos last year, throwing more than 8,000 people out of work, roughly a fifth of the casino workforce. The gaming industry has struggled to stay afloat amid competition from nearby states' casinos.
"The Atlantic City economy was dealt a staggering blow with the closure of these casinos," U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said in a statement. "For the thousands of workers who lost their jobs as a result, we are committed to providing the resources, support, and training they need to get back on their feet."
About 14 percent of the laid-off workers have a bachelor's degree or higher. Just over 45 percent have a high school degree, according to the grant application. The grant proposes expanded training, placement, education, literacy, and on-the-job training grants to assist employers in hiring affected workers.
Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian said he was thrilled by the news. He said bringing jobs to the Shore is the key to keeping the city solvent.
"The timing could not be better," Guardian said. "All this [job] training is no good if we don't have the jobs." He noted plans and proposals to reopen or adapt the Revel, Showboat and Atlantic Club Properties as well as "Bass Pro Shop and the conference center at Harrah's coming," and said, "we are providing literally thousands of jobs and now we have the resources to provide training for these jobs."
The grant was announced by members of New Jersey's congressional delegation, including Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez and Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a Republican.
In December, the delegation appealed to Perez to support a proposal filed by the state seeking assistance for employees affected by the shutdown of the Revel, Showboat, and Trump Plaza casinos and the earlier closing of the Atlantic Club.
"This is another important step towards Atlantic City's comeback," Booker said. "This National Emergency Grant is focused on the workers and will be utilized to increase occupational skills and to get those impacted by the casino closing back to work. This has been a unified effort, working with my colleagues in Congress to secure and expedite assistance to the thousands of New Jersey families in need and to get Atlantic City on strong footing again."
The appeal for the Atlantic City Re-Employment Initiative also was supported by current and former Reps. Donald Norcross, Jon Runyan, Chris Smith, Frank Pallone, Albio Sires, Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne, and Rush Holt.
National Emergency Grants are disbursed from the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and require states to meet specific guidelines. In 2013, New Jersey received a $15.5 million grant following Hurricane Sandy to assist workers.
Last month, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney introduced a package of Atlantic City recovery bills that would authorize casinos to collectively pay $150 million in lieu of taxes for two years and proposes redirecting a $25 million to $30 million alternate investment tax to pay off the city's debt.
A vote on the measure was postponed after a deal between billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Unite Here Local 54 on the fate of the Trump Taj Mahal collapsed at the last minute.