US Labor Department awards grant to help displaced Wyoming coal workers

State: Wyoming

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Award Amount Approved: $2,000,000

Initial Amount Released: $1,080,465

Funding Awarded to: Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 140

Use of Funds: The U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $2 million, with $1,080,465 released initially, to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services to provide reemployment services to dislocated coal workers affected by industry layoffs.

The funds will serve the Wyoming counties of Campbell, Converse, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan and Weston.

Background: This funding is part of a 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, 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 investment boards to reemploy laid-off workers quickly by offering training to increase occupational skills.