Bonners Ferry resident, Josh Florea, didn’t know what his future held when he was laid off from his job in the fall of 2009.

But with a mix of grit and perseverance, along with assistance from the Idaho Department of Labor, he made his dream come true.

Josh Florea in uniform for the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

Florea attended North Idaho College for two years starting in the spring of 2010. In 2012, after completing classes at North Idaho College and with the help of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program, he got a call from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office offering him employment.

Florea is now a lead detention deputy and combatives instructor for Bonner County. He has been a deputy ever since he left North Idaho College.

“I really enjoy what I do. I put my heart and soul into what I do every day,” Florea said. “I learned there are still things you can accomplish even after 12 years.”

The department’s program helped Florea grow, not only as a professional, but as a person. He said it made him get out of his comfort zone in his late 20s and led him to finding the career he wanted to pursue.

“There was so much of the world I was scared of at the time, this program was such a beautiful experience, because it made me become a better person,” Florea said.

When he started with the TAA program, Florea didn’t have a positive outlook on school due to his high school experience. That all changed once he started his criminal justice studies at North Idaho College.

“I made the Dean’s List at school and that was really important to me. I proved to myself that I could do it, especially if I put the work in,” Florea said.

Although he was on his own when he pursued the program, Florea immediately felt supported by department staff from the beginning. After that, he knew he could achieve his goals.

“This training was the biggest blessing of my life. It drove me to do something positive, and it was Summer and Janice who both took care of me,” Florea said. “They helped me fill out paperwork and sign up for classes. They were like big sisters or moms to me.”

Looking back on his experience with the department’s program, Florea summarized it in a few words: “a blessing.”

“When I was going through the trade program, I never imagined that I could work for Bonner County.” Florea said. “I was so eager to pass school…I never would have dreamed that I would be where I am now.”

While thinking about his peers who were laid off from Welco, he said they should apply for the program and pursue a career they are interested in. And overall, the experience is rewarding and worth it in the end.

“If you never step outside your comfort zone, you will never know what’s on the other side,” Florea said. “Don’t be scared of the experience and welcome it with open arms.”

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The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program provides services and benefits to workers who lose their jobs because of increased imports or because their employer shifted production to certain countries outside the United States. It is a federal program administered by the Idaho Department of Labor.

On July 1, 2022, the TAA program began termination. Workers who were certified as eligible for TAA and separated from their job on or before June 30, 2022, may still be eligible for benefits and services. 

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The Idaho Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Program is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY24 totaling $172,641.

Lindsay Trombly, Public Information Specialist

Idaho Department of Labor