The U.S. Department of Labor announced additional incremental funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to wildfires that affected the state in October and December 2017.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued two declarations in response to California’s 2017 wildfires. After the issuance of each declaration, the Department awarded DWG funding to assist with recovery efforts in the 14 counties included in the declarations. California identified 12 counties currently receiving assistance through this grant: Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Ventura, and Yuba.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants 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.