US Department of Labor announces grant for more than $4.6 million to assist flooding recovery efforts in Tennessee

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $4,674,400 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of the flooding that struck Tennessee in May 2010. Of this amount, $1,752,900 will be released initially.

"The images of Nashville under water have been heart-breaking," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will support ongoing recovery efforts and provide temporary employment to Tennesseans as they clean-up flood-impacted areas and return their lives to normalcy."

These funds will be awarded to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Funds will be used to create temporary jobs to assist in the recovery efforts as a result of the devastation caused by severe storms and resulting flooding, tornadoes and straight-line winds.

On May 4, 2010, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared the following counties eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program: Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Smith, Sumner, Tipton, Williamson and Wilson.

Following this initial increment of the full grant, additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance.

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/.