U.S. Department of Labor announces $1.4 million grant to continue ice storm recovery efforts in Arkansas

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,442,099 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts following a 2009 ice storm in Arkansas.

"Northern Arkansas is still working to clean up and recover from the destruction caused by a large ice storm in the winter of 2009," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will provide more funding to support continuing recovery efforts."

This second and final increment will be awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. Funds will be used to create more temporary jobs to assist in the recovery efforts as a result of the devastation caused by the ice storm.

On Feb. 6, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared the following 30 counties in Arkansas eligible for the FEMA Public Assistance Program: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Newton, Poinsett, Pope, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren and Washington.

On March 18, a grant in the amount of $2,167,099 was awarded to the state, with $725,000 released initially to create approximately 151 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist in the clean-up and recovery efforts as a result of the ice storm. On June 30, the grant was modified to increase the number of approved participants to 163 and to extend the grant period to Dec. 31, 2009.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/.