Additional funding awarded to Mississippi to assist ongoing cleanup
and recovery efforts from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $833,835 National Emergency Grant incremental award to continue with the cleanup and recovery efforts resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi on Feb. 10, 2013. These funds are being awarded to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to create temporary jobs for eligible individuals to assist in cleanup efforts.

"The residents of Mississippi recovering from the devastating storms last February," said Eric M. Seleznow, acting assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "This funding will help create the jobs necessary to provide assistance to the communities impacted by this damaging weather system."

This grant was first approved on March 4, 2013, for up to $2,000,000, with $1,000,000 initially released, to assist in the aftermath of the Mississippi severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. This incremental award brings the total funds awarded for this project to $1,833,835, which is projected to create a total of 95 temporary jobs.

Following the Mississippi severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared Forrest, Lamar, Marion and Wayne counties as eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program. The state is targeting Forrest and Lamar counties for assistance under this grant. More information on designated disaster areas in Mississippi is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4101.

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/.

Editor's Note: Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Eric M. Seleznow's radio actuality on National Emergency Grants is available for public use.