State labor officials have been awarded $100,000 for fidelity bonds, which reduce financial risk for employers who hire people with criminal records or a history of addiction.
Fidelity bonding has the goal of alleviating employers’ fear of loss at no additional cost and giving Alaskans with these histories an opportunity to reduce their chances of recidivism through self-sustaining employment.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Fidelity Bonding Re-entry Project is a four-year grant that boosts access to fidelity bonds and promotes hiring by funding better outreach to businesses, community and industry organizations, employers and unions.
Job seekers with criminal backgrounds and employers interested in no-cost boding can call their nearest Alaska Job Center at 1-877-724-2539 for application instructions. For more information, contact Shawna Harper, assistant director of the state Division of Employment and Training Services at 907-465-1992 or shawna.harper@alaska.gov.
