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ETA News Release: [10/05/2004]
Contact Name: Ed
Frank or Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or 693-3984
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces
$7.5 Million in Funding to Aid Alabama Workers Affected by Hurricane
Ivan
WASHINGTON-U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced
a National Emergency Grant of $7.5 million to provide assistance to workers in
Alabama affected by Hurricane Ivan. The grant will have an initial release of
$2.5 million. Prior to announcing the grant, Secretary Chao and Alabama
Governor Bob Riley met and thanked volunteers working to assist people in need
following Hurricane Ivan.
"The volunteers Governor Riley and I met with today are working hard to
speed Alabama's recovery, and President Bush and I thank them for their
dedication and compassion," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This
Administration is committed to getting Alabama the immediate help it needs and
this $7.5 million grant, providing disaster clean-up and temporary jobs for
workers, will help restore and rebuild the communities impacted by Hurricane
Ivan."
Awarded to the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs,
the grant will provide temporary jobs to workers who became unemployed as a
result of Hurricane Ivan. Workers will participate in projects that provide
food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
Funds will also be used to provide temporary workers for demolition, renovation
and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities, lands and on
homes of economically disadvantaged individuals who are eligible for the
federally funded weatherization program. Priority will be given to services for
the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Information about these
temporary job opportunities is available at local One Stop Centers located in
counties where disaster declarations have been made.
The grant will provide assistance to approximately 625 individuals in
32 counties including Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke,
Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva,
Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lowndes, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry,
Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Washington, and Wilcox.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared the 32 Alabama
counties eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program as a result of the
damage caused by Hurricane Ivan on September 15 and 16, 2004.
Alabama workers who have lost their source of income due to Hurricane
Ivan may also be able to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
benefits even if they would not normally be eligible for state unemployment
compensation. To apply for this assistance, please call: 1-866-234-5382 or
visit: www.dir.alabama.gov.
National Emergency Grants are part of the Secretary's discretionary
fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines.
For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training
programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.
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