There was a thread going on a while back...title was something like boeing 737 type ratings for furloughed pilots...
Through the WIA (Worker Investment Act), mucho $$ is available for things like type ratings for laid off pilots. In Arizona, the deal is you need to be "laid off/furloughed" and have an active unemployment claim on file with the department of economic security...then you need to go through an "introduction and intake" to the WIA program. After that's done, they send you to a career counselor. To that meeting, you bring info you've researched on department of education approved schools (in AZ, both K&S Aviation and PremAir are approved for 737 types)...you discuss costs, etc, and it's a done deal. My friend did this and she had $6,000 funded for her type and had to pay $1500 out of pocket...not a bad deal.
I know this program is available in other states, but the general premise should be the same.
Hope that helps.