US Department of Labor awards initial $3.1M grant to support cleanup, employment, training services after Texas’ severe winter storms

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial award of $3,120,612 to the Texas Workforce Commission to provide employment and training services to communities affected by severe winter storms in February 2021. High winds, heavy snow and historically low temperatures knocked out power for millions of residents, and state officials estimate the storms led to nearly 60 deaths.    

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the National Dislocated Worker Grant award of up to $9,361,836 will assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in 82 counties across Texas. The Federal Emergency Management Administration issued a major disaster declaration in February 2021, enabling Texas to request this funding.

Funding will support the creation of disaster-relief employment, including debris and damage cleanup; humanitarian assistance to connect economically disadvantaged individuals with repair, maintenance and other services; and employment and training services to individuals enrolled in the project.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.