U.S. Department of Labor Approves New Assistance to Dislocated Workers after Wildfires in Northern and Southern California

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) has been approved for the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to November 2018 wildfires throughout California. The funding will assist the state in response to the Camp Fire in Butte County, which is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. It will also provide assistance in response to the Woolsey and Hill Fires which ignited the same day in Los Angeles and Ventura counties; these have collectively scorched over 400 square miles and reduced air quality to dangerous levels.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a disaster declaration on November 12, 2018. It allows the state to request DWG funding to assist with recovery efforts in the three counties declared eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.

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