U.S. Department of Labor Awards Florida $11.8 Million in Dislocated Worker Grant Funds for Hurricane Irma Disaster Recovery

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced additional funding of $11,808,708 for the Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant awarded to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The funds will allow for participants to continue disaster-relief cleanup resulting from the September 2017 storm, as well as for the provision of employment and training services to eligible grant participants. 

The storm made landfall in Florida on September 10, 2017, bringing extraordinary rainfall, flooding, and damaging winds to the state. On the same day, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a major disaster declaration, allowing Florida to request funding to assist with cleanup efforts in the 66 counties declared eligible for the FEMA Public Assistance Program. On September 12, 2017, the Department approved this Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $30,000,000. The funding announced today brings the total awarded to the full amount approved.

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 that cause significant job losses.

The mission of the 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 assure work-related benefits and rights.