U.S. offers jobs grant to Florida space workers

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The U.S. Labor Department on Wednesday announced a $15 million emergency grant to help space shuttle workers start new careers in Florida, a politically important swing state with a high jobless rate.The shuttle program is scheduled to end after two more launches from the Kennedy Space Center this year and about 8,000 workers are expected to lose their jobs.The first shuttle flew in 1981. Flights have been used to launch satellites, space probes and the Hubble Space Telescope and, since 1998, to carry astronauts and big components to the International Space Station."We know we have a tremendous challenge here," Labor secretary Hilda Solis said during a visit to the space center.The Labor Department grant is in addition to a pending $40 million request by President Barack Obama to help displaced shuttle workers in Florida, a state already struggling with an unemployment rate above the national average.Florida's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 12 percent in April, compared with 9.9 percent nationwide, and Obama's decision to scrap a follow-up program to the shuttles has been unpopular in the state.The high U.S. jobless rate is expected to affect elections in November that could cost Obama control of Congress.The Labor Department grant is intended to provide counseling and training for about 3,200 people employed under shuttle contracts held by United Space Alliance, which is a joint venture of the Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp, and other firms.Under a proposal from the Obama administration, the Kennedy Space Center would still be in charge of a five-year, $5.8 billion effort to help private companies develop space transportation services. It was unclear how many new jobs that might create, though some estimates put it at about 2,500. (Editing by Jane Sutton and David Storey)

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