US Department of Labor awards $600K in incremental funding to continue employment, training services for workers displaced by QVC workplace fire

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of $600,000 to the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions to continue employment and training services for workers dislocated by layoffs in 10 counties after a fire led to the closure of the QVC Rocky Mount Inc.’s distribution center in December 2021.

In March 2022, the department announced the award of a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $4 million – with an initial award of $1,333,333 – to enable the Division of Workforce Solutions to provide services for nearly 2,000 laid-off workers in Beaufort, Bertie, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pitt and Wilson counties. 

One of the largest structure fires in North Carolina’s history, the incident had a significant impact on the region when layoffs began in February 2022. There are no plans to reopen the facility. The 10 counties affected by the QVC closure are considered distressed communities based on factors such as median household income, average unemployment rate, percentage growth in population and adjusted property tax base per capita. 

The department’s Employment and Training Administration oversees National Dislocated Worker Grants, which provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event, such as company layoffs that lead to workforce needs exceeding available resources. National Dislocated Worker grants are supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. 

The funding announced today will continue to support job search assistance and follow-up services for participants affected by the closure. With this latest funding, the total awarded for the project is $1,933,333.