US Department of Labor awards initial $7.4M grant to support disaster-related jobs, other assistance to California in wake of severe winter storms

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the initial award of a $7,469,452 grant to California for cleanup and recovery activities after severe winter storms in December and January caused flooding and extensive waterway damage.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $22 million allows the California Employment Development Department to provide people with temporary jobs focused on debris removal, water damage cleanup and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the storm. The funding will also be used for career and training services for affected workers.

Between Dec. 27, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023, a series of severe storms and atmospheric rivers swept through California. The storms caused local and regional flooding and mudslides, knocked down trees, triggered sinkhole formation and ultimately damaged public and private lands in 51 of the state’s 58 counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a major disaster declaration on Jan. 14, 2023, enabling California to request this funding.

Dislocated Worker Grants – supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 – 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 lead to significant job losses.