For Immediate Release
May 8, 2020
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
NMDWS receives grant for employment recovery for displaced workers
All CARES Act benefits are 100% federally funded
(Albuquerque, NM) – The U.S. Department of Labor has approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant in the amount of $3 million to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). The funding will provide employment recovery for displaced workers significantly affected by the spread of COVID-19, which will ultimately enable businesses and New Mexico residents to begin to recover from the negative economic impact to our state.
With funding received from the grant, NMDWS has identified several areas of focus:
Addressing shortage of healthcare workers in the state. Allocating funds to be utilized in providing training for needed workers to respond to the health crisis, including direct care and public health response (ie, contact tracing, outreach);
Partnership with the New Mexico Economic Development Department to provide customized training for businesses who plan to re-tool their operations, ie, manufacture PPE, sanitizing equipment/supplies, or training on deep cleaning techniques to meet demand statewide; and
Partnership with the Bernalillo County Commissioners and the Central Workforce Development Board to address employment for non-violent offenders scheduled for early release due to COVID-19. A transitional jobs program will be initiated to promote successful transition into work, including case management, job readiness, soft skill development, and training.
“The proposed funds will support New Mexico businesses and job seekers as they innovate job site practices to promote healthy and productive workplaces, as well as target individuals who – with additional training and education – could bolster their earning potential,” said NMDWS Deputy Secretary Yolanda Montoya-Cordova.
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About the National Dislocated Worker Grant
National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) are discretionary grants awarded by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, under Section 170 of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). DWGs provide resources to states and other eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected layoff events causing significant job losses. This funding is intended to temporarily expand capacity to serve dislocated workers, including military service members, and meet the increased demand for WIOA employment and training services, with a purpose to reemploy laid off workers and enhance their employability and earnings. Disaster DWGs provide funding to create temporary employment opportunities to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts, when an area impacted by disaster is declared eligible for public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or otherwise recognized by a federal agency with authority or jurisdiction over federal response to the emergency or disaster.