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ETA News Release: [03/20/2008]
Contact Name: Jennifer Kaplan or Terry Shawn
Phone Number: (202) 693-5052 or x4676
Release Number: 08-0367-NAT

U.S. Department of Labor awards $2.3 million to aid Greensburg, Kan., in continued tornado recovery

Additional funding to help establish local leadership important to recovery

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of $2,304,120 in continued National Emergency Grant funds to the state of Kansas to provide professional municipal services, pursuant to the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, and to continue the ongoing recovery and repair of damage caused by a tornado that devastated the city of Greensburg and Kiowa County on May 4, 2007. The department has awarded more than $12.4 million out of a $20 million commitment that was announced on May 18, 2007.

"This $2.3 million grant will help Greensburg and Kiowa County advance efforts to recover from the tornado devastation," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Following the tornado, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared all of Kiowa County eligible for its Public Assistance Program. The $2.3 million in additional funding, awarded to the Kansas Department of Commerce, will enable the state to fill the jobs necessary for the ongoing recovery of Greensburg and Kiowa County.

"The professional municipal services positions that will be filled through this funding are important to the future planning and rebuilding efforts the city of Greensburg must undertake to rebound from this devastating event," said acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell.

Positions to be filled in Greensburg include a recovery and assistant city administrator, a recovery financial manager, a community development official, a community planner, an economic development director and supportive roles. Kiowa County positions to be filled include a county administrator of emergency management and a deputy director of emergency management.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund. For more information, visit www.doleta.gov/NEG.