The U.S. Department of Labor has approved an initial $5 million in emergency grant funding for Tennessee to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in response to Tropical Storm Helene. The storm, which began as Hurricane Helene, made landfall on September 26, 2024, in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane before weakening into a tropical storm and causing significant flooding in eastern Tennessee.
The aftermath of the storm led to casualties and widespread damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. State officials are focused on transportation and debris removal, with several state routes closed and bridges rendered impassable or destroyed.
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez stated, “The Employment and Training Administration is committed to ensuring workers in Tennessee affected by Tropical Storm Helene have access to grant funding and assistance.” He added that the Dislocated Worker Grant would provide crucial support by offering jobs to affected workers while aiding Tennessee's recovery efforts.
Following the storm's impact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued an emergency declaration on September 27, 2024, followed by a major disaster declaration on October 2, 2024. This allowed Tennessee to seek federal assistance for recovery operations across twelve counties: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 through the National Dislocated Worker Grant program administered by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development this funding aims at providing temporary disaster-relief employment as well as humanitarian aid addressing immediate needs. Additionally it supports training initiatives within these impacted communities.
The department’s Employment and Training Administration manages National Dislocated Worker Grants aimed at enhancing state-level dislocated worker programs' service capacity by supplying funds following substantial unexpected economic disruptions leading to notable job losses.
