National Dislocated Worker Grants Program Guidance

Agency: Employment and Training Administration

17.277 -- WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grants / WIA National Emergency Grants

Closed opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026

Description

National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) are discretionary grants awarded by the Secretary of Labor under Section 170 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to provide employment-related services for dislocated workers. The Department funds two types of DWGs: Disaster Recovery and Employment Recovery.

Disaster Recovery DWGs provide funding to create temporary employment opportunities to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts when an area impacted by an emergency or major disaster is declared eligible for public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or is declared, or otherwise recognized, as an emergency or disaster of national significance by a Federal agency with authority or jurisdiction over Federal response to the disaster or emergency.

Employment Recovery DWGs temporarily expand capacity to serve dislocated workers and to meet the increased demand for employment and training services following a qualifying event. Qualifying events include major economic dislocations, such as plant closures, mass layoffs, or higher-than-average demand for employment and training activities for dislocated members of the Armed Forces and their spouses. Under 20 CFR 687.110(a)(5), the Secretary of Labor may determine other major dislocations eligible for Employment Recovery DWGs.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

Other

Additional information

Eligibility varies depending upon the type of National Dislocated Worker Grant requested, as noted below. Please reference the text of TEGL 12-19 for additional requirements. Disaster Recovery DWGs: 1. States, as defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in Section 3(56);2. Outlying areas as defined by WIOA, Section 3(45); and,3. Indian tribal governments as defined by the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5122(6) Employment Recovery DWGs: 1. a state or outlying area (as defined by WIOA, Section 3), or a consortium of states;2. a local Workforce Development Board (WDB) or a consortium of WDBs;3. an entity eligible for funding through the Indian and Native American program in WIOA Section 166(c);4. entities determined to be appropriate by the governor of the state or outlying area involved; and,5. entities that demonstrate to the Secretary of Labor their capability to effectively respond to circumstances related to particular dislocations.

Grantor contact information

Description

Diane Easterling Grants Management Specialist

Email

DOL-ETA-DWG@dol.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
TEGL_12-19_Change-1.pdf	TEGL-12-19 Change 1	Dec 9, 2020 02:27 PM UTC
COVID-19_Disaster_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Full_Application_Worksheet_fillable.pdf	COVID-19 Disaster Recovery DWG - Suggested Full Application Worksheet_fillable	Apr 28, 2020 02:29 PM UTC
Disaster_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Project_Operator_Information_final.pdf	Disaster Recovery DWG - Suggested Project Operator Information	Apr 1, 2020 05:59 PM UTC
Employment_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Project_Summary_for_New_Grant_Request_final.pdf	Employment Recovery DWG - Suggested Project Summary for New Grant Request	Apr 1, 2020 06:06 PM UTC
Disaster_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Modification_Summary_and_Narrative_final.pdf	Disaster Recovery DWG - Suggested Modification Summary and Narrative	Apr 1, 2020 06:00 PM UTC
TEGL_12-19.pdf	ETA-TEGL-12-19	Mar 19, 2020 05:44 PM UTC
Employment_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Employer_Data_Worksheet_final.pdf	Employment Recovery DWG - Suggested Employer Data Worksheet	Apr 1, 2020 06:01 PM UTC
COVID-19_DWG_-_Suggested_Project_Summary_for_New_Grant_Request_final.pdf	COVID-19 DWG - Suggested Project Summary for New Grant Request	Apr 1, 2020 05:58 PM UTC
Employment_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Modification_Summary_and_Narrative_final.pdf	Employment Recovery DWG - Suggested Modification Summary and Narrative	Apr 1, 2020 06:05 PM UTC
Disaster_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Enrollment_and_Expenditure_Worksheet_final.pdf	Disaster Recovery DWG - Suggested Enrollment and Expenditure Worksheet	Apr 1, 2020 05:59 PM UTC
Employment_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Enrollment_and_Expenditure_Worksheet_final.pdf	Employment Recovery DWG - Suggested Enrollment and Expenditure Worksheet	Apr 1, 2020 06:04 PM UTC
Employment_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Project_Operator_Information_final.pdf	Employment Recovery DWG - Suggested Project Operator Information	Apr 1, 2020 06:05 PM UTC
Disaster_Recovery_DWG_-_Suggested_Project_Summary_for_New_Grant_Request_final.pdf	Disaster Recovery DWG - Suggested Project Summary for New Grant Request	Apr 1, 2020 06:00 PM UTC
How_to_Apply_-_DWGs_-_FINAL.pdf	How to Apply - DWGs	Apr 1, 2020 06:07 PM UTC

Link to additional information

Closed: July 7, 2022

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$300,000,000

Program Funding

150

Expected awards

$150,000

Award Minimum

$100,000,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

ETA-TEGL-12-19

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Category of Funding Activity:

Employment labor and training

Category Explanation:

History

Version:

Posted date:

March 19, 2020

Archive date: