Capito, Manchin Announce Funding for West Virginia’s Severe Storm Recovery Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,016,923 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The funding will be used to support disaster-relief employment for eligible individuals to assist with cleanup after severe storms in February and March caused flooding and extensive waterway damage in southwestern areas of West Virginia.

“The late-winter storms that swept through West Virginia earlier this year caused severe damage,” Senator Capito said. “Today’s announcement means our state will be able to hire workers to help repair and restore the places hit hardest by the storms. I appreciate the Labor Department taking action on this and I will continue advocating to ensure our state has the necessary resources to support disaster-relief efforts.”

“The heavy rain and snow storms in February and March caused severe damage to homes and buildings in central and southwestern West Virginia. Earlier this year, I led the West Virginia delegation in urging President Biden to approve the federal disaster declaration for both the severe winter storm and the heavy rain storms. In May, President Biden approved the declaration for both storms. I am thankful the Department of Labor is supporting the recovery efforts by employing workers to help communities impacted by the storm. West Virginia will rebuild stronger thanks to the hardworking employees, first responders, National Guard members and local citizens who are helping the Mountain State recover,” Senator Manchin said.

Administered by DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, the funding is the first increment of a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to of $3,050,769 to WorkForce West Virginia to provide temporary employment for eligible individuals to remove debris from streams, clear downed trees and perform other cleanup activities in Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putman, and Wayne counties.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued an emergency declaration for the region in May.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated workers programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.

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