U.S. Department of Labor Announces up to $3 Million in Disaster Recovery Funding for Derecho Recovery in Iowa

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $3 million, awarded to Iowa Workforce Development, in response to the severe storms of August 2020. 

Severe storms brought hurricane-force winds across central Iowa on Aug. 10, 2020. The storm system, identified as a derecho, inflicted significant damage on businesses, homes, crops, and livestock. An initial award of $1 million will create disaster-relief jobs to address debris cleanup and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the storms. The project will focus efforts in the 16 Iowa counties of Benton, Boone, Cedar, Clinton, Dallas, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, and Tama. Work may expand to seven additional counties included in the associated disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Aug. 17, 2020.

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