The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1 million grant to support Arkansas in its cleanup and recovery efforts following severe storms that hit the state in April. These storms, which occurred between April 2-22, brought tornadoes and flooding, resulting in significant damage to homes and businesses, displacement of residents, utility outages, and disruption of public services.
On May 21, 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared a major disaster in Arkansas, allowing the state to request federal funding. The grant will aid recovery efforts in Dallas, Hempstead, Izard, Lafayette, Little River, Marion, Miller, Nevada, Pulaski, Searcy, and Sevier counties. It will be distributed across four local workforce development areas.
The Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant enables the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services to offer temporary jobs focused on cleanup and recovery. It also provides employment and training services for eligible participants in affected communities.
These grants are supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. They provide funding for direct services in areas experiencing significant economic dislocation events that exceed available resources.
