US Department of Labor provides grant to assist Kentucky with recovery efforts following severe storms

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $859,793 National Emergency Grant to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts following severe storms that struck Kentucky on Feb. 29 and continued through March 3.

"The storm-battered citizens of Kentucky will get much-needed help with clean-up and recovery in the counties hardest hit by recent storms," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The department's funding is part of the federal government's commitment to helping these communities fully recover and rebuild."

The funds, awarded to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, will be used to create 65 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist in clean-up and recovery efforts. The counties of Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Morgan, Pendleton and Wolfe, to date, have been targeted by the commonwealth for assistance under this grant. Those counties, among others, were declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on March 6 to be eligible for its Public Assistance Program. More information on designated disaster areas in Kentucky is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=16272.

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/.