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US Govt. Finds Nearly $30M To Help Atlantic City's Laid-Off Casino Workers

By David Madden

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- The federal government is coming through with millions of dollars to help thousands of laid-off casino workers in Atlantic City find new jobs.

With four casinos gone in the past year, putting more than 8,000 people out of work, New Jersey's congressional delegation got the US Labor Department to put together $29.4 million in grants for retraining that idled work force.

"We're hoping that it will be a great opportunity to use as an incentive with the team that's putting together the economic push to attract businesses to come in," says US Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ).

Thirteen million dollars will be made available immediately to Workforce Investment Boards in the region.  LoBiondo says efforts are also underway to extend unemployment benefits beyond 26 weeks for those still out of work.

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