WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,199,600 grant, with $1,084,000 released initially, to the state of Ohio to help create temporary jobs to aid cleanup and recovery efforts resulting from recent storms and flooding in the state.

“This $2.2 million grant will provide dislocated Ohio workers with jobs aiding in the cleanup and reconstruction of waterways and repairing other property damage that communities suffered in the storms,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

On Sept. 11, 2007, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared the Ohio counties of Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland and Wyandot eligible for FEMA’s public assistance program. Of these counties, Crawford, Hancock and Putnam have been targeted by the state to receive assistance through this grant.

The grant announced today was awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and will provide workers affected by the recent storms with temporary jobs on projects related to the cleanup and reconstruction of destroyed waterways and lands within the affected communities.  Cleanup projects are also being coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure operations adhere to policies designed to prevent the destabilization of stream banks and waterways.

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 on National Emergency Grants, please visit www.doleta.gov/NEG.