US Department of Labor awards $1M to support disaster-relief jobs, training to continue Michigan’s opioids crisis response

WASHINGTON – While Michigan saw overdose fatalities decline in 2018 and 2019, the pandemic forced more people to isolate, made treatment services less accessible and worsened the state’s opioids epidemic, reports the Michigan Opioids Task Force.

To support the state’s continued efforts, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of $1,025,220 for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to continue providing disaster-relief jobs, along with employment and training services, to eligible individuals in 24 counties in Michigan.

In March 2021, the department awarded a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $3,075,661 to the state, with an initial award of $1,025,220. The funds support Michigan’s efforts to continue to confront the effects of the opioids crisis on the local workforce and train people for Life Coach disaster-relief positions. With today’s announcement, the total awarded for the project is $2,050,440.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioids crisis a national public health emergency in October 2017, enabling Michigan to request this funding.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, and supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants provide funding to states and local communities to increase their ability to serve dislocated workers after large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.