US Labor Department awards funding to help Florida’s recovery, clean-up following impacts of Hurricane Hermine

State: Florida

Type of award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Amount approved/awarded: $500,012

Funding awarded to: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

Number of workers served: Approximately 25

Use of funds: The U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant disaster recovery award for $500,012 to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to create disaster relief employment for eligible individuals to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts following damage caused by Hurricane Hermine, which impacted Florida from Aug. 31 to Sept. 11, 2016.

These funds will be used to provide for disaster relief 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 the delivery of humanitarian aid and safety assistance, as needed. Targeted counties include Alachua, Baker, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Wakulla. 

Background: Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants 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. The grants generally provide resources to states and local workforce development boards to support economic recovery and reemployment following major layoff events or natural or other disasters.