WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a grant of up to $4.3 million to create 402 temporary jobs in counties affected by the Northern California storms that began December 17, 2005.

“There is still more to be done for Northern California to recover from the storms and this $4.3 million grant will provide over 400 temporary jobs for Californians to do that important work,” said Secretary Chao.

An initial release of $2.1 million will be awarded to the California Employment Development Department and will supplement a May 2006 National Emergency Grant of $5.5 million. With today’s announcement, project funding has surpassed $9.8 million, and a total of 825 jobs have been created. Funding released today will help complete cleanup and repairs to provide safe routes of travel for community members. Additionally, debris that is blocking streams and contributing to erosion will be cleared.

Workers eligible to apply for temporary jobs include those dislocated as a result of the storms, other dislocated workers and the long-term unemployed. Counties targeted by the state for assistance under the grant include Alpine, Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Napa, Plumas, Sisikiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.

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 and other Department of Labor employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov/NEG.