US Department of Labor provides grant to help Georgia residents recover from severe storms

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5 million National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that struck Georgia last month.

"We've all seen the pictures on television of devastation in Georgia," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help affected communities to clean up and repair the damage."

The funds are being awarded to the Georgia Department of Labor and will be used to create temporary jobs to assist in recovery efforts.

On April 29, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared the following counties in Georgia eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program: Bartow, Catoosa, Coweta, Dade, Floyd, Greene, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup and Walker. More information on designated disaster areas in Georgia is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14253.

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.