US Department of Labor awards $4M in funding to continue disaster-relief jobs, training for North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded incremental funding of $4 million to support disaster-relief jobs and continue employment training for North Carolina residents harmed in September 2024 when Hurricane Helene brought the worst flooding in a century to the area. 

In October 2024, the department’s Employment and Training Administration responded by awarding a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $10 million, with an initial award of $2 million, to assist with cleanup and recovery activities in 25 North Carolina communities affected by the storm. 

This Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant allows the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions to provide people with temporary jobs focused on cleanup and recovery efforts, as well as providing employment and training services to storm survivors. 

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources.