On September 29, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the award of $68 million in Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment through Equitable Employment Recovery (CAREER) National Dislocated Worker Grants to 29 organizations, including several counties and county workforce development boards.

This round of funding is part of a total of $90 million in funding made available by DOL on August 19. The Department first awarded $22 million in CAREER National Dislocated Worker Grants on August 25, and the most recent $68 million announcement includes a second round of $24 million awarded on September 17 and a third round of $44 million awarded on September 27. The grants provide funding to facilitate reemployment opportunities for workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on those from historically marginalized communities or groups.

Administered by DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), CAREER National Dislocated Worker Grants provide funding for a wide range of services to assist dislocated workers find employment opportunities, including providing career guidance and helping with childcare and transportation costs. Funds can also be used to develop or improve virtual services to better serve job seekers. To ensure that all those who are eligible are aware of the assistance available to them under the grant, recipients must conduct robust outreach.  

Counties are deeply invested in the health and vitality of their local economies through workforce training, business attraction and retention and other community and economic development activities. Counties welcome the award of additional funding in CAREER National Dislocated Worker Grants as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 and pivot towards recovery.