Governor Stein Broadcasts Extra Funding for Momentary Jobs, Coaching for Helene Recovery

Today Governor Josh Stein introduced that the U.S. Department of Labor has launched extra funds to assist North Carolinians get again to work in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.

The new funds, totaling $4 million, symbolize the remaining portion of a $10 million Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant that the U.S. Department of Labor initially awarded to North Carolina in 2024 within the wake of Helene. The funds have been a part of an authentic request from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) in October 2024.  

“Hurricane Helene inflicted billions in economic losses on businesses large and small,” mentioned Governor Josh Stein. “Thousands of people lost their jobs. This federal grant will enable folks in western North Carolina who are out of work to get a job helping their neighbors and businesses recover and rebuild. It is a win-win. We have made great progress in western North Carolina, but the work is far from over. I am pleased that this federal grant has now been fully awarded, but more is needed. That is why I continue to advocate for an additional $38 million for workforce support from our federal partners. We will never forget our commitment to the people of western North Carolina.”

DWS will administer the brand new funding in partnership with 5 native workforce improvement boards:

• Foothills WDB (Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford counties)
• High Country WDB (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties)
• Mountain Area WDB (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties)
• Southwestern WDB (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties)
• Western Piedmont WDB (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba counties)

“The Department of Commerce continues to use a variety of tools to help the families and businesses of western North Carolina,” mentioned N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “We are grateful for the strong collaboration by our team, employers, local workforce development boards, and NCWorks Career Centers, which has helped to place workers in vital roles that serve their communities.”  

Through the federal grant, eligible residents are employed in jobs that assist both clean-up and restoration from storm harm or humanitarian help to individuals within the affected areas. Supported by the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act, Dislocated Worker Grants like this one fund short-term jobs in response to massive, surprising occasions that trigger vital job losses. Participants could also be employed by nonprofit organizations, state or native authorities businesses, or personal companies engaged in related disaster-recovery work. To date, greater than 275 people have participated on this program.  

In addition to short-term employment, this grant can assist employment and coaching companies that assist individuals discover new jobs and pay for workforce coaching – at group schools, for instance.

Workers could also be eligible for the grant if they’ve been quickly or completely laid off as a consequence of the hurricane or in the event that they meet sure different standards.

To apply for the Hurricane Helene Dislocated Worker Grant program, residents ought to contact their native NCWorks Career Center. Contact info is on the market at www.ncworks.gov.