The Rogue Workforce Partnership has been awarded $8,073,654 in new federal grants to help the region respond to the recent wildfire disaster, as well as other impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds can pay for temporary workers to help with clean-up, recovery, and humanitarian efforts directly related to the wildfire disaster or the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. These are complimentary funds, designed to wrap-around, and not duplicate, other disaster recovery funds from FEMA or private insurance.
Funds can be used to hire temporary workers for disaster clean-up, recovery or humanitarian aid. Employment services and job training are also available for entry into high-demand industry sector jobs with high-wage “earn and learn” career paths.Temporary disaster recovery subsidized jobs can perform the following types of work:
- Distribution of food, clothing, and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
- Clean-up and recovery efforts including demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed structures, facilities and lands located within the disaster area related to the emergency or disaster. Individual disaster relief employment is limited to 12 months or less for work related to recovery from a single emergency or disaster which may be extended an additional 12 months if sufficiently justified.
These new funds add to the pool of funds regularly available to help unemployed workers connect to jobs, or get on-the-job training, paid internships, or short-term training that will launch them into high-demand jobs in industries with high-wage career paths such as healthcare, manufacturing, construction, transportation and logistics, natural resources or information technology. Funds for related child care, transportation and housing supports may also be available. In addition, there are funds to help businesses skill-up current workers that can create “earn and learn” opportunities and career advancement.
Contact Jim Fong or Jill teVelde for more details on the wide variety options and qualifications for these grants, or go to https://rogueworkforce.org/dwg/