US Labor Department awards more than $1.6M in incremental funding to continue employment services for Silicon Valley workers affected by layoffs

State: California

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Initial Amount Approved: $3,200,000

Incremental Amount Awarded: $1,660,430

Funding Awarded to: The NOVA Workforce Board

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 920

Use of Funds: On Feb. 3, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant award for up to $3.2 million – with $1,539,570 released initially – to provide reemployment and training services to workers affected by layoffs and closures at 70 companies in San Mateo and northern Santa Clara counties, commonly known as Silicon Valley, helping to close the skills gap for these workers.

With this incremental award, the NOVA Workforce Board will receive $1,660,430 to continue this effort, bringing the total funds awarded to date for this project to the fully approved amount of $3,200,000.

Background: Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, 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.