US Department of Labor awards $614K to continue cleanup, recovery needed in 9 counties after West Virginia’s severe storms in 2021

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of $614,437 to WorkForce West Virginia to enable the state to continue to provide temporary employment for cleanup and recovery services in nine counties affected by severe storms in 2021.

The funding follows the Aug. 9, 2021, announcement of the department’s award of a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $3,050,769 – with an initial award of $1,016,923 – to employ people to remove debris from streams, clear downed trees and do other clean-up work in Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne counties.

Administered by the Employment and Training Administration, the award will support jobs at 27 worksites in southwestern West Virginia. With today’s announcement, the total awarded for the project is $1,632,360.

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