ATLANTA (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor is giving Georgia more than $1.6 million to bolster its unemployment insurance program.

Officials said Thursday that the grant is intended to help improve investigation into unemployment insurance fraud and to assist with other system improvements.

Federal officials say the grant being given to Georgia is part of more than $176 million being distributed to 40 state workforce agencies nationwide.

Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said in a statement that the grants will help state officials ensure the efficiency of their unemployment insurance programs.