Department awards $2.75M to help Kentucky workers affected by coal mining industry layoffs rejoin workforce

Grant to provide reemployment services, training for more than 400 additional workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the funding of a supplemental National Dislocated Worker Grant of $2.75 million to provide for reemployment and training services in Kentucky. The new funding will assist current program participants as well as an additional 406 targeted participants impacted by recent layoffs.

In March 2013, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Programs, Inc. received $3.7 million to provide targeted services for workers impacted by layoffs in the coal mining industry. Since then, changes in the coal industry and power sector have led to additional layoffs, creating the need for further funding. On May 30, 2014, the department awarded an additional $7,549,409. The planned participant level was then also increased to 2,000. Today's supplemental award will bring the total amount of funding for this program to more than $14 million, serving 2,403 dislocated workers.

With today's funding, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Programs, Inc. will continue providing reemployment and training services to current program participants and extend services to more workers as layoffs continue. Traditional career and supportive services will be provided, as well as training for in-demand jobs in field such as business services, construction, energy and healthcare.

This funding is part of the Obama administration's efforts to target federal assistance to coal communities and workers harmed by a decades-long trend of job losses. The grant is also complimentary to the POWER+ Plan proposed in the President's FY 2016 budget and the POWER award to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These efforts support of a state-led initiative to maximize the economic and workforce development benefits of the build out of broadband infrastructure in Eastern Kentucky.

The NDWG program is part of the U.S. Secretary of Labor's discretionary fund. The department awards grants based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines.