The Employment and Training Administration has awarded two rounds of Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training (QUEST) Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker (DWGs), in 2022 and 2023. These DWGs empower America's unemployed and underemployed workers to enter, return to, or advance in Good Jobs. Grant awards for each round are described below.
2023 QUEST DWGs
On May 5, 2023, the department announced the availability of funds for 2023 QUEST Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants of up to $5 million per applicant through Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 2-22 Change 2. The new QUEST DWG projects build on the work of the first round of QUEST DWG grantees to empower America’s unemployed and underemployed workers through worker and business engagement, elevate equity, and connect jobseekers with Good Jobs. Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.
The award of $57 million in 2023 QUEST DWGs to 12 state workforce agencies supports projects enabling 10,500 dislocated workers to enter, return to, or advance in Good Jobs in infrastructure, environment and climate, the care economy, and other critical and growing industries. These grants prioritize individuals whose employment has been negatively impacted by the pandemic and workers from historically marginalized and underserved populations. QUEST DWGs are expanding the skilled workforce while promoting equitable access to high-quality jobs for historically disadvantaged communities.
Click on the links in the following table to view 2023 QUEST DWG recipients and proposed project information. Please note that the grant approval amount may not represent the current obligation of funds.
Recipient | State | Amount |
| California Employment Development Department | CA | $ 3,325,000 |
| Colorado Department of Labor and Employment | CO | $ 5,000,000 |
| Illinois Department of Commerce | IL | $ 5,000,000 |
| Kentucky Department of Workforce Development | KY | $ 5,000,000 |
| Maryland Department of Labor | MD | $ 3,925,086 |
| Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development | MO | $ 5,000,000 |
| Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation | NV | $ 5,000,000 |
| New York State Department of Labor | NY | $ 5,000,000 |
| Ohio Department of Job and Family Services | OH | $ 4,999,577 |
| Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission | OR | $ 5,000,000 |
| South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation | SD | $ 5,000,000 |
| Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development | TN | $ 5,000,000 |
2022 QUEST DWGs
In July 2022, the ETA announced the availability of funds for QUEST DWGs grants of up to $15 million per award through Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 2-22. Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.
The award of nearly $199 million in QUEST DWGs supports projects enabling approximately 15,000 unemployed and underemployed people to enter, return to, or advance in high-quality jobs in infrastructure, environment and climate, the care economy, and other critical and growing industries. These grants prioritize individuals whose employment has been negatively impacted by the pandemic and workers from historically marginalized and underserved populations. QUEST DWGs are expanding the skilled workforce while promoting equitable access to high-quality jobs for historically disadvantaged communities.
Click on the links in the following table to view QUEST DWG recipients and proposed project information. Please note that the grant approval amount may not represent the current obligation of funds.
2022 Awarded Grants