US Labor Department awards $3.5M in funding for clean-up, recovery efforts in West Virginia after severe storms

State: West Virginia

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Award Amount Approved/Released: $3,500,000

Funding Awarded to: Workforce West Virginia

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 250

Use of Funds: The U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant award for $3,500,000 to Workforce West Virginia to create temporary jobs in clean-up and recovery efforts after severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in West Virginia which began on June 22, 2016.

The project’s recovery activities target Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster counties.

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.