US Department of Labor Awards $2M for Kentucky Worker Layoffs
Summary
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $2 million to the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to assist over 2,400 workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closures. The funding will provide employment and training services in 25 impacted counties.
What changed
The U.S. Department of Labor, through its Employment and Training Administration, has awarded a $2 million National Dislocated Worker Grant to the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development. This grant is intended to support employment and training services for approximately 2,414 workers who were affected by mass layoffs and plant closures at several manufacturing and advanced production facilities in Kentucky between August 2025 and March 2026. The funding will be utilized in 25 specific counties identified as having a limited capacity to absorb these dislocated workers into similar employment.
This award, supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, enables the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to offer retraining and skills development services to eligible individuals. While this is a notice of funding award and not a direct regulatory mandate for businesses, employers in the affected sectors and counties should be aware of the resources becoming available to support their former workforce. There are no immediate compliance actions required for employers based on this announcement, but it highlights a significant economic dislocation event in the region.
Source document (simplified)
News Release
US Department of Labor awards $2M to help Kentucky workers affected by mass layoffs, closures
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $2 million to the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to support employment and training services for eligible individuals in 25 counties impacted by mass layoffs and plant closures.
Between August 2025 and March 2026, mass layoffs at Akebono Brake Corp., BlueOval SK, Fritz Winter North America LP, Kentucky Cooperage LP, Moveret Inc., and Russellville Engineered Castings Inc. have affected 2,414 workers. Given the significant number of mass layoffs and closures occurring at major manufacturing and advanced production facilities, the local labor market has a limited capacity to absorb these workers into similar jobs.
Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this National Dislocated Worker Grant will allow the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to provide retraining and skills development services for dislocated workers seeking assistance in Allen, Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Logan, Marion, Meade, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Trimble, Warren, and Washington counties.
Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources.
Explore Labor Department resources for job seekers.
Agency Employment and Training Administration Date March 11, 2026 Release Number 26-379-NAT Media Contact: Christine Feroli Phone Number 202-693-4664 Email feroli.christine.e@dol.gov Media Contact: Lorynn Holloway Phone Number (202) 693-4652 Email holloway.lorynn.n@dol.gov Share This
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