U.S. Department of Labor Awards Additional $1 Million in Dislocated Worker Grant Funding for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Recovery

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced additional funding of $1 million for the Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission. The proposed funds will allow participants to continue disaster-relief cleanup efforts resulting from the August 2017 storm, as well as provide employment and training services to eligible individuals.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a major disaster declaration, enabling the state to request this federal assistance. In August 2017, the Department initially approved $10,000,000 to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the 19 counties included in the declaration.  Today's incremental award of $1,000,000 follows earlier awards totaling $25,000,000, bringing total funds awarded to date to $36,000,000.

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.