BAINBRIDGE – This week, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) applauded the announcement that the U.S. Department of Labor awarded Ohio $8.5 million in funding for Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) to help the Buckeye State address workforce-related impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This award is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which passed the House in March with Joyce’s support. In total, CARES provided $345 million for DWGs to help states prevent, prepare for and respond to the pandemic.

“As Ohio continues to reopen, this funding will be critical in restarting our local economies and assisting with the reemployment of displaced workers,” said Joyce. “I was proud to vote to provide the Dislocated Worker Grant Program with emergency funding to help those struggling in the aftermath of this pandemic find meaningful employment opportunities, and look forward to seeing these grants help Ohioans get back to work as our businesses once again open their doors.”

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, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) applied to receive this emergency funding from the U.S. Department of Labor on May 26 and received approval on June 8. ODJFS will distribute the funding to Ohio’s local workforce areas and work in partnership with them to provide outreach to employers and services to individuals who were laid off, either permanently or temporarily, as a result of the pandemic.

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