The governors of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey asked the federal government Wednesday for a $48 million emergency grant to help thousands of financial industry workers who are losing their jobs.
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Wednesday that she, New York Gov. David Paterson and New Jersey Gov. John Corzine have sent a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao urging her to approve the grant.
The governors said preliminary estimates show that 82,000 financial services jobs in the New York City metropolitan area will be lost by the end of next year because of the worldwide economic downturn.
The governors said the emergency grant would allow the states to give each laid-off worker $12,500 to help them find jobs and relocate, and provide them with other services.
