The North Central Workforce Development Board will receive nearly $500,000 through a grant.

Late last week Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson announced more than $1.7 million dollars in Special Response Grant funding was awarded state-wide.

The money will be distributed to 9 state workforce development boards to provide re-employment and training services to nearly 1,600 dislocated workers.The North Central Board received the second largest grant at $425,000 which will go to assist 585 workers.

Newson said, “the dollars are designed to help workers access specialized services that can connect them to new opportunities more quickly.”

The source of the Special Response Grant program is federal Workforce Investment Act funds, which are overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor and issued by state agencies. A total of $1,715,541 in federal money was awarded to provide services such as skills assessments, job search and placement assistance, career counseling, soft-skills training, and vocational training.