US Department of Labor provides more than $2.9 million to continue Tennessee flood recovery efforts

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,921,500 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of flooding that struck Tennessee in May.

"The floodwaters from May's storms have receded, but Tennesseans still need our help as they work to complete the clean-up and recovery efforts across the state," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Working families in the volunteer state need and deserve our assistance, and I am pleased that this $2.9 million under the National Emergency Grant program will help ensure they receive it."

Today's funding, awarded to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will continue to provide for temporary jobs to assist in recovery efforts related to devastation caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes that occurred this past spring.

On May 4, 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. The declaration was later amended to include the counties of Chester, Clay, DeKalb, Hardin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Stewart, Trousdale and Wayne.

On May 25, a National Emergency Grant was approved for up to $4,674,400, with $1,752,900 released initially, to create temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist in the clean-up and recovery efforts.

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.