The U.S. Department of Labor has allocated $1 million in grant funding to aid disaster-relief jobs and provide employment and training services for Kentucky residents affected by recent severe weather events. The decision comes in response to the significant damage caused by a severe weather system from February 14, 2025, to March 7, 2025, which included heavy rain, flash flooding, and landslides impacting public infrastructure and private property across the state.
The aftermath of these events compounded existing challenges from previous disasters in 2024 and early 2025 that had already hindered recovery efforts in Kentucky. As a result of these concurrent disasters, the state has faced substantial economic losses and difficulties in rebuilding.
A major disaster declaration was issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), allowing Kentucky to seek federal assistance for recovery operations across 67 counties. These include Adair, Allen, Ballard, Barren, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Carlisle, Clay, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Franklin, Greenup Hancock Harlan Hart Henderson Henry Hickman Hopkins Jackson Jefferson Johnson Knott Knox Laurel Lawrence Lee Leslie Letcher Lewis Livingston Magoffin Marshall Martin McCreary McLean Menifee Metcalfe Monroe Morgan Muhlenberg Nicholas Ohio Owsley Perry Pike Powell Pulaski Robertson Rockcastle Russell Spencer Trigg Union Wayne Whitley Wolfe counties.
The Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant will enable the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training to offer temporary jobs aimed at cleanup and recovery activities. Additionally, it will provide employment and training services to eligible individuals within the affected communities.
This initiative is supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. The National Dislocated Worker Grants are designed to assist areas experiencing significant economic disruptions that lead to workforce needs surpassing available resources.
