US Department of Labor provides grant increment to assist New York with ongoing storm recovery efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $5,790,739 National Emergency Grant increment to assist with continuing cleanup and recovery efforts in New York in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

"While much progress has been made, cleanup and recovery efforts continue in New York following the back-to-back hurricane and tropical storm," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This funding from the federal government will provide critical assistance to support the activities already underway in communities impacted by the two storms."

A National Emergency Grant from the Labor Department was awarded Sept. 16, 2011, to the New York State Department of Labor for up to $16,186,108, with $5,395,369 released initially to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. On Sept. 28, 2011, a number of counties declared eligible for public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to the impact of Tropical Storm Lee were added to the scope of this grant. Additional funding of $5 million was approved June 29, 2012. The latest increment completes the total amount of funding awarded.

Today's increment will provide assistance to the following 20 counties: Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Greene, Montgomery, Nassau, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Tioga, Washington and Westchester. More information on designated disaster areas in New York is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4020/affected-counties and http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4031/affected-counties.

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/.