US Department of Labor announces $3.1M to help Texas recovery, clean-up after March 2016 storms, flooding in Jasper, Newton and Orange counties

State: Texas

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Award Amount Approved/Released: $3,161,095

Funding Awarded to: The Texas Workforce Commission

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 160

Use of Funds: The U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant award for $3,161,095 to the Texas Workforce Commission to create temporary jobs in clean-up and recovery efforts in the counties of Jasper, Newton and Orange after a series of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in March 2016.

The funds will provide for temporary employment on projects to assist with clean up, demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities and lands within the affected communities. They will support delivery of humanitarian aid and safety assistance as needed. The grant will also fund work on the homes of economically disadvantaged individuals eligible for the federally funded weatherization program, with priority given to services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

Background: Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, NDWGs 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 which cause significant job losses. NDWGs generally provide resources to states and local workforce investment boards to reemploy laid-off workers quickly by offering training to increase occupational skills.