DOL Awards $1.4 Million to Washington Communities Affected by Opioid Crisis
The funding will help Clark and Cowlitz counties address the economic fallout of the opioid crisis.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Jan 03, 2025
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has allocated a total of $1.4 million to support disaster relief jobs and employment services in southwest Washington communities grappling with the opioid crisis. This includes a new grant of $627,124 awarded to the Washington State Employment Security Department, building on an initial allocation of $800,000 announced in September 2023.
According to a recent release, the funding aims to address the health and economic challenges posed by widespread opioid addiction and overdose in Clark and Cowlitz counties. It supports job creation in disaster relief roles and provides training for dislocated workers, particularly those facing long-term unemployment and homelessness due to the crisis.
“The Employment and Training Administration is committed to ensuring Washington workers affected by the opioid crisis have access to assistance that will help their communities address the unique impacts of this complex public health crisis,” Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez said in a statement. “This Dislocated Worker Grant provides critical support to Washington by providing jobs to affected workers and training in the areas of addiction treatment, mental health and pain management.”
The funding is part of a broader initiative under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. Dislocated Worker Grants are designed to bolster state and local workforce programs during significant economic disruptions. The opioid crisis was declared a national public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in October 2017 and continues to affect communities nationwide.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.