Nevada employment department to invest $5M to address workforce barriers
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 03/27/2024 - 9:50am
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation is granting local workforce boards $5 million to address barriers to employment.
The 2023 Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training (QUEST) Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) will help dislocated workers, persons living in poverty and underserved racial and cultural populations.
DETR was one of 12 state workforce agencies awarded this QUEST DWG from the US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (USDOL-ETA).
“DETR chose these priority populations due to the vast number of individuals in the state who could benefit from enhanced efforts to reduce barriers to their employment including transportation, awareness of available services, wraparound supports, and opportunities,” said Kristine Nelson, Employment Security Division administrator at DETR. “Barriers such as these increase the vulnerabilities these populations face. This grant will help mitigate those barriers and lead those populations towards sustainable employment.”
Individuals can access the resources through the statewide network of EmployNV Career Hubs.
"By helping Nevadans acquire the skills for higher-paying jobs, we can help individuals become self-sufficient while creating a valuable talent pool for employers,” said Jaime Cruz, executive director at Workforce Connections. “Training and education are long-term investments in our economy.”
The grant will allow Workforce Connections to conduct outreach to underserved individuals and dislocated workers, inform eligible individuals about grant-funded activities, and provide them the opportunity to enroll for services. Southern Nevada’s Industry Sector Partnerships provide direct employer input for the region’s investments in workforce development.
“The QUEST grant comes at a key moment for Nevada’s workforce development as we are beginning to recognize just how substantially COVID-19 impacted us," said Nevadaworks CEO Milt Stewart. “These impacts hit particularly hard for marginalized groups, as many became displaced during the pandemic and many just don’t have the right skills or opportunities to get into good-paying jobs. We are excited to enhance our ongoing efforts to provide better, more accessible support and resources for these individuals.”
Through the QUEST grant, Nevadaworks will launch an outreach campaign that targets underserved individuals and dislocated workers, ensuring eligible individuals are aware of grant-funded activities and have the opportunity to enroll in them. Additionally, Nevadaworks will continue to work closely with businesses and community organizations to address challenges and opportunities in growing industries, while connecting job seekers from marginalized groups with workforce resources and employment opportunities.
