US Labor Department awards $550K for re-employment services for coal workers affected by layoffs in Texas

State: Texas

Type of award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Amount approved/awarded: $559,005

Funding awarded to: Texas Workforce Commission

Number of workers served: Approximately 85

Use of funds: The U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant award for $559,005 to the Texas Workforce Commission to provide reemployment services to dislocated workers impacted by April 2016 layoffs in the coal industry.

The layoffs occurred as a result of the closure of three mines operated by Luminant Mining Company in Hopkins and Titus counties.

Background: This funding is part of the Obama administration’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Initiative, a coordinated, multi-agency effort to invest federal economic and workforce development resources in communities and regions negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy. 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.