U.S. Department of Labor Awards Additional Disaster Recovery Funding To West Virginia in Response to Severe Storms and Flooding

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced incremental funding of $866,675 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant to Workforce West Virginia in response to storms that brought heavy rainfall, flooding and wind damage to the state in February 2018.

Funds will allow participants to complete remaining disaster-relief recovery efforts in 21 counties declared eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program. In September 2018, the department approved the grant for up to up to $2,500,000, with an initial release of $833,325. The department provided a previous increment of $800,000 in June 2019 to continue the work of the project. This latest funding brings total funds awarded to the full approved threshold of $2,500,000.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker training and employment programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.