U.S. Department of Labor Awards Additional National Dislocated Worker Grant Funding to Aid Ohio’s Recovery from Severe Storms and Flooding

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved additional funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in response to severe storms in southeastern Ohio. Funding of $2,942,845 will allow participants to continue disaster-relief recovery efforts in the communities affected by the February 2019 storms.

The weather event’s record-breaking rainfall caused extreme flooding and embankment failures, as well as extensive road and culvert damage. The related cleanup and recovery efforts will continue across many of Ohio’s southeastern counties included in the April 2019 disaster declaration made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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.