US Labor Department awards grant supplement to fund continuation of employment and training services for tsunami cleanup workers in American Samoa

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $500,000 National Emergency Grant supplement to continue re-employment and training services for workers who were hired on a temporary basis to help with cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of the tsunami that struck American Samoa in September 2009.

"This additional federal funding will enable American Samoa to continue providing training and re-employment services to the workers who assisted with the cleanup and recovery efforts after the worst disaster in American Samoa's history," said Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "The services provided through this grant will help these hardworking individuals find permanent employment."

The Labor Department approved a grant of up to $24,857,608 to the American Samoa Department of Human Resources on Oct. 19, 2009, with $8,285,870 released initially, to fund temporary jobs for individuals to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts. On April 21, 2010, incremental funding of $16,571,738 from the same grant was awarded to continue funding the temporary jobs as well as to provide workforce development services to the workers to help them transition to unsubsidized employment once the cleanup jobs ended. The jobs have now ended. Today's supplemental funding to continue services brings the total funds awarded to date to $25,357,608.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state or territory's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/.