On Friday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has received funding of $1,025,220 from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to provide services to Michigan communities significantly affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.
Administered by the USDOL’s Employment and Training Administration, National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant funding will serve 24 counties in Northern Lower Michigan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency in October 2017, enabling Michigan to request this funding. This is the initial funding allotment, with up to an additional $2 million available based on program outcomes.
“As leaders, we must do everything we can to help residents facing substance use disorder get the care they need,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer, “Widespread substance use and addiction continues to challenge many Michigan families, and this funding will uplift communities affected by the harmful health and economic effects of opioids.”
Funding will create disaster-relief positions addressing local workforce impacts of the opioid crisis. It will also provide employment and training services to up to 170 individuals affected by the crisis, as well as individuals transitioning into healthcare positions related to addiction, treatment, prevention and pain management. Work will be supported in the applicable counties by Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, Michigan Works! Region 7B Consortium and Networks Northwest. Michigan Works! Agencies are the State of Michigan’s partners for workforce development programs.
“The opioid crisis has effected Michiganders on many fronts – this funding will help many Michigan communities address the significant economic and workforce impacts,” said LEO Acting Director Susan Corbin. “It will also support our ongoing efforts to encourage more individuals to enter professions that could help combat this crisis.”
Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.
More information about the USDOL’s Dislocated Worker Grant is available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/dislocated-workers.
