Mississippi receives $1 million grant increment from US Labor Department to continue cleanup, recovery from Hurricane Isaac storm damage

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $1 million National Emergency Grant increment to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to continue funding temporary jobs for cleanup and recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaac.

"Mississippi has made a lot of progress in recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Isaac," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Jane Oates. However, there is still more work ahead to complete the task. This additional funding from the Labor Department makes possible the continuation of temporary jobs to rebuild communities."

Fourteen of the Mississippi counties declared eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program – Claiborne, Clarke, Forest, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jefferson, Jones, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River and Wilkinson – have been targeted by the state for assistance under this grant increment. More information on designated disaster areas in Mississippi following Hurricane Isaac is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4081.

On Sept. 6, 2012, the Labor Department approved a National Emergency Grant for up to $3 million and released $1 million. The department awarded an additional increment of $1 million on Jan. 31. The increment announced today 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/.