US Department of Labor announces $798K supplemental funding award to assist South Dakota in pandemic recovery

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the supplemental award of $798,246 to the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation to support workforce development to respond to the impacts of the pandemic on the state.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the award will fund the continuation of disaster-relief employment to respond to the effects of the pandemic on South Dakota. The state will also use funding to deliver employment and training services, and provide humanitarian support to eligible individuals.

The award is one of 64 National Dislocated Worker Grants made by the department to help address the workforce-related impacts of the coronavirus public health emergency. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act provided $345 million for Dislocated Worker Grants to prevent, and prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

In 2020, emergency declarations issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency enabled South Dakota to request this funding. 

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