The U.S. Department of Labor has approved up to $5 million in emergency grant funding for Florida to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in response to Hurricane Helene. This initiative targets 31 counties affected by the hurricane, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26, 2024, at Dekle Beach in Taylor County.

Hurricane Helene is noted as the strongest hurricane on record to hit Florida's Big Bend area, causing catastrophic flooding and damage across the northwest part of the state. The region, already impacted by previous hurricanes Idalia and Debby, faced additional challenges with storm surges and flooding from Helene.

"The Employment and Training Administration is committed to ensuring workers in Florida affected by Hurricane Helene have access to grant funding and assistance," stated Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez. He emphasized that the Dislocated Worker Grant provides essential support through job opportunities for those affected while aiding recovery efforts in Florida.

Following an emergency declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on September 24, 2024, and a major disaster declaration on September 28, federal assistance was requested for recovery efforts across multiple counties including Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin among others.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, this National Dislocated Worker Grant allows the Florida Department of Commerce to offer temporary disaster-relief jobs and humanitarian aid addressing immediate needs for those displaced by Hurricane Helene. It also facilitates training and service provision within affected communities.

The Employment and Training Administration manages these grants to expand dislocated worker programs' capacity at state and local levels. This is achieved through funding assistance following significant economic events that result in substantial job losses.