US Department of Labor provides additional funds for continuing recovery efforts in Missouri after 2011 tornado, storms

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $16,532,485 National Emergency Grant supplement that will fund approximately 2,200 temporary jobs to assist with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts following the tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011, and storms that caused flooding in a number of Missouri counties between mid-April and early June 2011.

"Missouri continues to need assistance with large-scale cleanup and recovery efforts after the Joplin tornado and other severe weather last spring," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These additional grant funds represent the federal government's commitment to help the residents of affected communities continue rebuilding their lives."

An initial grant of $5,822,352 was awarded in the aftermath of the tornado on May 27, 2011. On June 30, $13,964,651 in supplemental funding was provided to continue assistance to Joplin as well as help Missouri counties added by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to its disaster declaration after they experienced severe storms. The funds being announced today, awarded to the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, bring the total amount to date to $36,319,488.

The following 29 Missouri counties will receive assistance under the latest award: Barry, Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Madison, Miller, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Polk, Reynolds, St. Francois, St. Louis, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne, Webster and Wright. More information on designated disaster areas in Missouri is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14395.

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/.