State grant to provide workforce training following prison closure

The state Employment Development Department has donated $995,000 to the Riverside County Workforce Development Division.

The grant will be used to help anyone who may lose their job because of the pending closure of Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe, which is scheduled for October, according to a statement on the department’s website.

“This funding will help provide timely employment resources, training, and assistance for local workers impacted by this closure,” said Nancy Farias, department director, in the statement. “We are working with our partners to facilitate the necessary rapid response to provide any impacted workers the support they need to help in their transition to new jobs.”

The grant will be used for education, training, and job resources. It will help people find work in industries like healthcare, information technology and industrial technology.

The development division is part of the county’s Housing and Workforce Solutions Department.