DOL Grants Florida $6.6M for Idalia Recovery Work

Via a recent press release, the U.S. Department of Labor has announced an initial grant of more than US$6.6 million to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in the state of Florida in the wake of Hurricane Idalia.

On Aug. 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 storm along the northeastern Gulf Coast, bringing high winds, storm surges, and massive flooding to Florida, as well as Georgia and the Carolinas.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the funding is being awarded as a National Dislocated Worker Grant, designed to provide up to $20 million in monetary support for disaster recovery efforts. The grant will allow the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to provide temporary employment focused on debris removal, water damage cleanup, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the storm. The funds will also support career and training services for affected workers. 

The project serves eligible individuals in the following Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla.

For more information on how to cope after severe weather hits your facility, check out 10 Steps to Safe Disaster Recovery.