US Labor Department awards nearly $700K in incremental funding to continue helping Iowa workers affected by John Deere layoffs

State: Iowa

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Incremental Amount Awarded: $691,693

Total Funds Awarded to Date: $1,728,979

Funding Awarded to: Iowa Workforce Development

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 650

Use of Funds: On June 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $3,058,322 – with $518,643 released initially – to Iowa Workforce Development to provide reemployment and training services to about 650 of the 1,312 workers affected by layoffs at John Deere facilities in Ankeny and Waterloo, Iowa in 2015. On July 20, 2016, an incremental award of $518,643 was released.

With this incremental award, the recipient will receive an additional $691,693 for continuation of these services, bringing the total funds awarded to date for this project to $1,728,979.

All 650 workers targeted for services have been certified as eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, allowing the program to provide them with training. This dual enrollment grant project provides these TAA-certified workers with access to case management services that are not available through the TAA program.

Background: Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, NDWG expand the service capacity of dislocated worker training and employment programs at the state and local levels temporarily by providing funding assistance when unexpected economic events cause significant job losses. Generally, the grants provide resources to states and local workforce investment boards to reemploy laid-off workers quickly by offering training to increase occupational skills.