US Department of Labor provides grant increment to assist additional New York counties following Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $13,896,148 National Emergency Grant increment to assist New York with cleanup and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.

"We know the cleanup and recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy can't be completed overnight," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The grants announced today represent the federal government's long-term commitment to providing support to impacted communities in New York by expanding assistance to an additional six counties."

On Oct. 30, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared seven New York counties eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk. On Nov. 2 and again on Nov. 13, the declaration was amended to include a total of six additional counties: Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Westchester and Ulster. More information on designated disaster areas in New York is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4085/affected-counties.

Under the initial FEMA declaration, this grant was approved on Nov. 1 for up to $27,792,296, with $13,896,148 released initially. This latest increment of $13,896,148 will create temporary jobs in the counties added to the declaration and represents the balance of the grant.

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/.

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