CNMI DOL-WIA Awarded $1.5 million for temporary employment opportunities
The CNMI Department of Labor Workforce Investment Agency (DOL-WIA) is one of 24 entities throughout the states and territories to be awarded funding for temporary employment opportunities to qualified participants through the COVID-19 Pandemic National Dislocated Worker Grant (PNDWG) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The CNMI DOL-WIA was awarded $1.5 million to assist eligible individuals with temporary employment on pandemic disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and other allowable function that would help the CNMI respond and recover from COVID-19. Training opportunities may also be available for those qualified and eligible individuals to transition between careers.
To qualify for the temporary employment opportunities, potential participants must register with
DOL-WIA and be deemed eligible for services.
Eligibility is defined as:
- Having been te1nporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of COVID-19
- Meet WIOA Dislocated Worker eligibility criteria
- Be a long-term (at least 6 months) unemployed worker
- Be a self-employed individual who became unemployed or significantly under-employed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals will be assessed to see if they meet the eligibility requirement.
The PNDWG was created to help address the workforce-related impacts of the coronavirus public health emergency to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
Secretary of Labor Vicky Benavente said the Dislocated Worker Grants will help some unemployed U.S eligible workers find new jobs by performing work that responds to the impact of the virus in the CNMI
“This grant is another option for U.S. eligible workers who do not qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) and meet the qualification for PNDWG to earn income or learn new skills during these challenging times. We continue to work hard to provide assistance as best we can,” said Secretary Benavente.
Interested individuals are encouraged to register and apply for services by creating a username and password in the “Sign-in” section of the www.hiremarianas.com portal.