WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants / WIA National Emergency Grants (17.277)
WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants / WIA National Emergency Grants (Assistance Listing 17.277) is run by the Employment and Training Administration, part of the Department of Labor. It awarded $658 million in 231 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $2.8 million per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $1.7 million. Half of the 231 awards fell between $1.2 million and $4.4 million, and they ranged from $6,771 to $30.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$658 million
- Grant awards231
- Typical award$1.7 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$49.5 million
- Size rank313 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $226 million in fiscal 2021 to $49.5 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 313th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 63% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 43 states and territories.
What the program funds
DWGs are supplemental, time-limited funding assistance provided in response to major economic dislocations or other events that cause significant impact on states and local areas that exceed the capacity of existing formula funds and other relevant resources. DWGs enable states and communities to respond to and recover from large, unexpected dislocation events.
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Entities that are eligible to receive a National Dislocated Worker Grant include: designated state or territorial Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program agencies; one or more Local Workforce Investment Areas; a designated organization receiving WIOA funding through the Native American Program provisions of WIOA or the tribal entities as described in the Stafford Act; entities determined to be appropriate to apply by the Governor of a state; and other entities that demonstrate their capability to carry out such projects to the Secretary of Labor. Funds can be used to provide employment and training services (including some supportive services) to eligible participants.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Eligible circumstances for funding include: Disasters - Both Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-declared disasters and other emergency events of national significance as designated by another Federal Agency; plant closures and mass layoffs affecting 50 or more workers; and assistance to areas experiencing higher than average demand for services for dislocated members of the armed forces and their spouses.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Part Chapter 3, Subpart Sec 170,Public Law 113-128.20 C.F.R. parts 680 and 687Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines do not apply
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Grants amount awarded in PY2023/FY2024 ranged from $600,000 to $8,300,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $3.5 million to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry for employment and training services for people in the state’s communities affected by the Sibanye-Stillwater mine layoffs. On May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $2.7 million in grant funding to support disaster-relief jobs and employment and training services for Georgia residents suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. On Jan 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor approved up to $10 million – with $1 million released initially – in emergency grant funding to California to support disaster-relief jobs and training services for those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants / WIA National Emergency Grants (17.277) awarded$658 million across 231 grant awards, an average of $2.8 million per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 59% of the money, colleges and universities 16% and nonprofits 6.5%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 106 | $385 million | 59% |
| Other | 40 | $119 million | 18% |
| Colleges and universities | 44 | $105 million | 16% |
| Nonprofits | 33 | $42.8 million | 6.5% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 7 | $3.0 million | 0.5% |
| Businesses | 1 | $2.4 million | 0.4% |
By state
41 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 20 | $80.9 million |
| Florida | 8 | $59.7 million |
| Kentucky | 12 | $59.4 million |
| Ohio | 10 | $30.7 million |
| Washington | 8 | $29.8 million |
| Georgia | 8 | $25.8 million |
| Illinois | 5 | $25.6 million |
| Wisconsin | 4 | $24.3 million |
| North Carolina | 9 | $23.1 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $22.8 million |
| Hawaii | 2 | $22.3 million |
| New York | 9 | $21.7 million |
| Maine | 5 | $18.5 million |
| Texas | 10 | $18.0 million |
| West Virginia | 8 | $16.2 million |
| Rhode Island | 2 | $15.6 million |
| Arizona | 2 | $15.0 million |
| Colorado | 2 | $11.8 million |
| Tennessee | 7 | $11.8 million |
| Connecticut | 5 | $11.5 million |
| Michigan | 4 | $11.5 million |
| Maryland | 6 | $11.4 million |
| Indiana | 4 | $11.3 million |
| Guam | 2 | $10.5 million |
| Massachusetts | 6 | $10.2 million |
| Arkansas | 7 | $8.3 million |
| South Dakota | 3 | $7.4 million |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 2 | $7.4 million |
| Alabama | 4 | $7.0 million |
| Missouri | 4 | $6.6 million |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | $6.3 million |
| Montana | 2 | $3.5 million |
| Mississippi | 5 | $3.2 million |
| Nevada | 1 | $2.8 million |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $2.6 million |
| Delaware | 2 | $2.2 million |
| South Carolina | 1 | $2.2 million |
| Kansas | 4 | $1.8 million |
| Virginia | 4 | $1.6 million |
| North Dakota | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Minnesota | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Wyoming | 1 | $730,952 |
| New Mexico | 1 | $277,380 |