U.S. Department of Labor Awards $13.5 Million in Dislocated Worker Grants in Response to Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of two Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $13,500,000 to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to the coronavirus. These awards are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus. This latest award follows nine previous waves of funding, bringing the total amount awarded to states and territories to $263,091,640.

“Flexibility is essential for Dislocated Worker Grant relief funds so they can be used where they are most needed, which is determined at the state and local level,” said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch. “These grants are helping Americans get back to work, and also can be used for contract tracing and coronavirus-related cleaning as businesses and schools continue to re-open.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the coronavirus a nationwide public health emergency on Jan. 31, 2020. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also issued coronavirus emergency declarations for states, outlying areas and Indian tribal governments on March 13, 2020. These federal declarations enable the Secretary of Labor to award Disaster Recovery DWGs to help address the workforce-related impacts of this public health emergency.  

Disaster Recovery DWGs may provide eligible participants disaster-relief employment to address coronavirus impacts within their communities, as well as employment and training activities. Employment Recovery DWGs provide reemployment services to eligible individuals affected by mass layoffs, such as those resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Two states will receive award funding in this wave. They are New York and West Virginia.

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.

For further information about the coronavirus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.