US Department of Labor provides grant increment to continue clean-up, recovery efforts in Texas after 2011 wildfires

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $406,101 National Emergency Grant increment to continue funding temporary jobs for cleanup and recovery efforts following damage caused by wildfires across the state of Texas in 2011.

"The 2011 wildfires impacted communities across Texas, "said Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "Funding from the Labor Department will provide the state with critical assistance for tackling tremendous, ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts while also continuing temporary jobs for eligible workers in need of employment."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency later declared 32 Texas counties eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program. This grant increment will fund continued efforts in those counties: Anderson, Bastrop, Bosque, Briscoe, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Colorado, Coryell, Edwards, Gregg, Hall, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Houston, Howard, Kimble, Leon, Marion, Menard, Montague, Morris, Navarro, Nolan, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Sutton, Upshur, Walker and Wise.

On Oct. 14, 2011, the Labor Department awarded a National Emergency Grant of up to $1,423,992 to the Texas Workforce Commission, with $474,664 released initially. The department later awarded a subsequent increment of $349,845. The increment announced today brings the total funds awarded to date to $1,230,610. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance.

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/.