Brooke Stroyke, Office of the Governor
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the investment of $6 million to strengthen Montana's workforce and provide job training to Montanans, particularly to individuals with disabilities and those who have become unemployed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Helping Montanans acquire the in-demand skills needed to fill good-paying jobs is a top priority," Gov. Gianforte said. "These investments will help more Montana workers access skills training programs, helping them enter or reenter the workforce or boost their careers to the next level while alleviating our workforce shortage in critical industries."
Gov. Gianforte approved the use of $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Employment Engagement Program, which augments the Department of Public Health and Human Services' (DPHHS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services.
DPPHS VR provides services to individuals with disabilities to obtain, regain, maintain, and advance in employment. The funding approved will supplement existing VR staff by temporarily adding 10 additional full-time rehabilitation counselors, opening the door to approximately 1,000 additional individuals with disabilities to participate in the program. Approximately 1,300 individuals are on the program's waitlist.
"This funding is going to have a tremendous impact on the people our agency serves," DPHHS Director Adam Meier said. "The opportunity to add additional rehabilitation counselors will allow us to work with our clients who are currently on the waiting list. These individuals are ready and willing to work, and just need the opportunity. We're excited to increase these efforts across the state to connect our clients with training, assisted technology and other tools that will help set them up to successfully enter the work force."
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