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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-6871
The U.S. Department of Labor is providing three emergency grants to
assist workers in the Midwest dislocated by floods, Acting Secretary of Labor
Cynthia A. Metzler announced today. Minnesota will receive $8 million; North
Dakota, $1 million; and South Dakota, $700,000. All three states were declared
disaster areas on April 7.
"Individuals whose lives have been disrupted by these devastating floods
deserve our sympathy and compassion," said Metzler. "I hope that this
assistance will allow workers to return to their normal employment as soon as
possible, as well as assist those affected communities toward a speedier
recovery."
The awards will be used to assist workers dislocated due to the
flooding of the Red River of the North. It is estimated that thousands of
workers have become dislocated as a result of the flooding. In addition, the
Department is working with the three state governments to redirect job training
funds already in these states to help with flood-related assistance.
The awards are authorized under emergency provisions of the Job
Training Partnership Act to fund special temporary jobs that would benefit the
public and help dislocated workers resume regular employment. Participants will
work for up to six months with public or private non-profit agencies, providing
humanitarian assistance for disaster victims and working on demolition,
clean-up, repair, renovation, and/or reconstruction of damaged and destroyed
public lands and facilities in the area. Workers may also receive limited
supportive services during the project. Long-term unemployed individuals and
other dislocated workers in these areas also may be served under this grant.
Workers who lost their jobs due to the floods also may be eligible for
unemployment insurance or disaster unemployment assistance. Both provide weekly
unemployment payments.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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