The U.S. Department of Labor announced on March 12 that it has awarded $1,671,239 to the Nebraska Department of Labor to support employment and training services for individuals affected by the closure of the Tyson Foods Inc. beef processing plant in Lexington.
According to the department, Tyson Foods closed its Lexington beef processing plant on Jan. 20, 2026, resulting in the layoff of 3,200 workers. The closure impacted approximately one-third of Lexington's estimated 10,500 residents.
The funding is provided through a National Dislocated Worker Grant administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration. The grant will enable the Nebraska Department of Labor to offer training and skills development services for dislocated workers in Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Frontier, Gosper, Lincoln, and Phelps counties.
National Dislocated Worker Grants are supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. These grants provide state or local boards with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing significant economic dislocation events that lead to workforce needs exceeding available resources.
In a related development, on August 24, 2022, the Department of Labor announced $3.4 million in Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration. Phoenix, Arizona was awarded $542,358 through the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation according to the Department of Labor.
Further details about this grant award are available as listed on the official roster page.
