U.S. Department of Labor Awards Additional Funding to West Virginia for Continued Disaster Recovery in Response to Severe Storms

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved additional funding of $800,000 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to Workforce West Virginia in response to severe storms in February 2018. This additional funding brings the total DWG funds awarded for this project to $1,633,325. 

In September 2018, the Department approved the DWG for up to $2,500,000, with an initial release of $833,325, to assist with cleanup efforts in 21 affected counties located in the western portion of the state, following the issuance of a Federal Emergency Management Agency major disaster declaration in April 2018.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 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 that cause significant job losses.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and issue work-related benefits and rights.