US DOL Grants Florida $15m in Hurricane Ian Assistance

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced an initial award of US$15 million to support disaster-relief employment, and job placement and training services in Florida as the state continues its recovery from Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane along Florida’s southwest coast on September 28, 2022, bringing high winds, storm surges, and massive flooding across Florida and up to its northeast corner. The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a major disaster declaration on the very next day, enabling the state to request this funding.

Administered by the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, the National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $30 million allows the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to provide individuals with temporary employment focused on the state’s debris removal and water damage cleanup as well as career and training services for workers affected by the storm. The grant will also provide funds for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

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