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The U.S. Department of Labor announced today, May 6, the award of six Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) totaling $10,012,821 to help address the workforce-related impacts of the public health emergency related to the coronavirus.
The awards are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $345 million for DWGs to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.
The department awarded $131,286,863 to 24 states and territories on April 14, and $30,170,311 to seven states on April 29. This latest award brings the total amount awarded to states and territories to $171,469,995.
The Technical College System of Georgia received $12 million in the first round of awards.
“As we look to thoughtfully reopen our economy, a central challenge will be to fight back the virus and assist unemployed Americans in finding jobs and getting back to work,” stated Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training John P. Pallasch. “The latest wave of Dislocated Worked Grant funding places eligible individuals into roles where they can help their communities address the effects of the virus.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the coronavirus a nationwide public health emergency on Jan. 31.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also has issued coronavirus emergency declarations for states, outlying areas and Indian tribal governments, and major disaster declarations in all 50 states. These federal declarations enable the Secretary of Labor to award Disaster Recovery DWGs to help address the workforce-related impacts of this public health emergency.
Disaster Recovery DWGs may provide eligible participants disaster-relief employment to address coronavirus impacts within their communities, as well as employment and training activities. Employment Recovery DWGs provide reemployment services to eligible individuals affected by mass layoffs, such as those resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
Six states and territories will receive award funding in this wave. They include Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and the Virgin Islands.
Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, DWGs 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.