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News Release
US Department of Labor announces up to $1.7M to help recovery, clean-up efforts after March 2016 storms, flooding in Louisiana
Director Ava Dejoie joined Gov. John Bel Edwards
and Deputy U.S. Secretary of Labor Chris Lu in Baton
Rouge today to announce a National Dislocated Worker
Grant of nearly $1.7M to help 21 of the state's parishes
recover from storms and flooding in March 2016.
BATON ROUGE, La. – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu announced today in Baton Rouge that the department would provide a National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to nearly $1.7 million to the state’s Workforce Commission to create temporary jobs to assist recovery and clean-up after severe storms and flooding in the state’s northern parishes in March 2016. Of the $1,699,317 announced today, $1 million will be released initially.
“National Dislocated Worker Grants are an important way for the federal government to help communities around the country respond in the face of crisis,” said Lu, who was joined by Gov. John Bel Edwards at the announcement. “The funds announced today will help support recovery and clean-up efforts in 21 parishes across northern Louisiana, an important step in helping these communities get back on track.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency made a major disaster declaration in 26 of the state’s parishes on March 13, 2016, after storms and flooding struck the region. This grant provide assistance to support recovery and clean-up efforts in 21 of those parishes: Ascension, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, DeSoto, Grant, LaSalle, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Richland, Tangipahoa, Union, Washington, Webster, West Carroll and Winn.
The funds will provide for temporary employment on projects to assist with clean up, demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities and lands within the affected communities. They will support delivery of humanitarian aid and safety assistance as needed. The grant will also fund work on the homes of economically disadvantaged individuals eligible for the federally funded weatherization program, with priority given to services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.
The NDWG program provides resources to states and other eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected events causing significant job losses. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the secretary of labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.