US Labor Department announces $2M in incremental funding for clean-up, recovery efforts after fires in California

State: California

Type of award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Total amount approved: $11,000,000

Incremental amount released: $2,000,000

Funding awarded to: California Employment Development Department

Number of workers served: Approximately 500

Use of funds: On Oct. 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $11,000,000 – with $2,000,000 released initially – to provide temporary employment to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts following California’s Valley and Butte fires, which occurred in September 2015.

With this incremental award, the California Employment Development Department will receive an additional $2,000,000 to continue the clean-up and recovery effort, bringing the total funds awarded to date for this project to $4,000,000.

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 career services and training to increase occupational skills.