Oak Fire in Mariposa County from the PG&E Mount Bullion Live Camera on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 4:35 P.M.
September 7, 2022 - SACRAMENTO – The California Employment Development Department (EDD) on Tuesday announced that it has awarded $950,000 to the Mother Lode Job Training Agency (Mother Lode) to support workers and businesses adversely impacted by the recent Ampine fire in Amador County and the Oak fire in Mariposa County.
“More than one hundred workers were left jobless by a devastating fire that destroyed the Ampine lumber mill in Amador County,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “And the recent Oak fire burned through thousands of acres, destroying homes and businesses, leaving local workers and employers in great need of assistance. These funds will help support the workers and businesses impacted by both fires as they work to recover and rebuild their lives and communities.”
Ampine Fire
The Ampine lumber mill was a key timber manufacturing business in the small community of Amador County. The loss of this business has been devastating for the local workers, families and community. With these funds, Mother Lode will focus on improving the employability of eligible workers through vocational retraining, while providing the supportive services they need to help them find quality jobs. Mother Lode will offer eligible individuals work-based learning opportunities such as paid work experience, on-the-job training, and occupational-skills training to meet the demands of the local labor market. Workers will also be provided with emergency resources, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation, financial aid, and insurance.
Oak Fire
The Oak Fire in Mariposa County spread quickly, spurring evacuations that impacted homes, workers, and businesses, as hundreds were displaced or lost everything. Mother Lode will use the funds to assess the impact of the fire, conduct community outreach, and provide workers and businesses with greatly needed employment services, such as reemployment guidance, career development, job training, and supportive services to assist individuals in finding training or employment.
Affected workers will be offered customized job search assistance, virtual job fairs, and in-person recruitment events.
Funding for this grant was provided through discretionary funds made available to Governor Gavin Newsom in accordance with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and administered by the EDD and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
Source: CA. EDD
