ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- The economic downturn forced a lot of people to learn a new job. But now one of the programs that helps them get trained is seeing tough times itself.

Congress slashed the Workforce Investment Board's funding by 37%, that works out to be nearly $3 million The organization shifted money around so programming will see only a 10% drop, but that means about 200 people who would have received help getting trained for a job will be left to turn elsewhere.

Paul Callighan, Workforce Investment Board Volunteer Chair, says "We are seeing an uptick of employment, it's slow it's gradual, but it is starting to happen. but our employers are saying they need trained workers to go into these jobs."

Callighan says they hope to start applying for grants to make up for the budget cut. The Workforce Investment Board serves about 1,800 people in Boone and Winnebago Counties