Department of Labor awards more than $6.6M to continue support for temporary jobs, workforce training in Florida after Hurricane Idalia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $6.6 million to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce training for eligible residents in Florida as the state’s recovery after Hurricane Idalia continues.

On Sept. 18, 2023, the department announced a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $20 million – with an initial award of $6.6 million – to the Florida Department of Commerce to provide people with temporary employment focused on debris removal, water damage cleanup and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the storm, and for career and training services for affected workers. Funding also supports career and training services for area workers. 

On Aug. 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia struck the northeastern Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, bringing strong winds, storm surges and massive flooding to the region. The incremental award announced today will continue to support disaster-relief jobs and employment and training services to assist people in 33 counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the emergency declaration on Aug. 28, 2023, and the major disaster declaration on Aug. 31, 2023, enabling the state to request federal assistance for recovery efforts. 

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, and supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide funding assistance to temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels when large, unexpected economic events cause significant job losses.