Qualifying Event

Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funds are available to assist with clean-up and other activities under three circumstances:

  1. Emergencies and major disasters - Defined in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which are declared eligible for public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Public Assistance is a specific eligibility term used by FEMA in designation of disaster areas.

    Applications must include a copy of the FEMA declaration, as well as amended FEMA declarations as the project is implemented, confirming that the counties targeted for DWG-funded clean-up activities are eligible for FEMA Public Assistance. States awaiting FEMA declarations may submit a Disaster DWG application if the governor of a state has formally requested such a declaration. However, final FEMA declaration determinations are required before a grant award is made. An emergency declaration by the governor of a state is not sufficient to receive funding assistance.

  2. Federal agency declarations, other than FEMA - These must fit the definition of emergency or disaster situations of national significance that could result in a potentially large loss of employment, as declared or otherwise recognized by a federal agency. Federal declarations from the Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration are examples of eligible federal declarations.

    Applications must include the following information:

    • Name of the federal agency declaring the emergency event/disaster;
    • Date of the emergency or disaster; and
    • Other pertinent information, as defined in DWG application tools and technical assistance.

  3. Relocation of large group - Circumstances where a substantial number of individuals, defined as 50 or more, relocate to another area from a disaster area.

Eligible Applicants

All Disaster DWG applications must be submitted by the state agency or outlying area designated by the Governor to receive WIOA Dislocated Worker formula funds or by an organization eligible for funding through the Native American Programs (WIOA Section 166(c)). This agency or organization will be the grantee, as well as the fiscal agent responsible for the appropriate allocation of funding to the affected areas.

States may subgrant funds to local boards and/or may expend such funds through public and private agencies and organizations engaged in such projects. States are expected to be able to deobligate and reobligate funds to affected areas and service providers quickly in order to ensure the funds are where they need to be in order to fulfill the purposes of this grant and to ensure that workers needing assistance are receiving it.

Eligible Participants

Participants must be determined eligible as defined in WIOA Sec. 170(d)(2). The following eligibility requirements apply to the following individuals residing within the declared disaster area, or who are forced to relocate due to the disaster or emergency event:

  • Individuals who are temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the disaster;
  • Other eligible dislocated workers as defined in WIOA Section 3(15);
  • Long-term unemployed workers, as defined by the state; and
  • Self-employed individuals who become unemployed or significantly underemployed as a result of the emergency or disaster.

Outreach efforts should emphasize workers who lost employment as a result of the disaster. Veterans' preference applies within these eligible groups.