State receives $720,000 federal grant to hire temporary workers for storm clean-up

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Today, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that Indiana will receive a $720,000 National Emergency Grant from the US Department of Labor to help with flood clean-up projects in 12 counties that have been declared federal disaster areas.  The funds will be used to hire unemployed Hoosiers following the flooding that took place last September.

"Thanks to the efforts of Governor Daniels, this is the second National Emergency Grant awarded to Indiana to put Hoosiers to work following devastating storms," said Teresa Voors, DWD commissioner. "DWD and our local partners are anxious to use these funds to provide temporary work for Hoosiers and help to communities affected by the flooding last fall."

DWD and their WorkOne partners are working with local communities to identify projects that will qualify for temporary workers through this grant.  Some examples of the types of projects that are typically completed with these grants include:

• Assisting parks departments clean-up storm debris and repair equipment;
• Working with solid waste districts to clean-up and repair drainage systems;
• Cleaning-up and repairing highway culverts and ditches;
• Sorting and salvaging public records documents; and
• Sorting and distributing donated items to non-profit organizations.

Once projects are identified, WorkOne will notify Hoosiers about the application process for these temporary positions.  

Indiana counties that were declared federal disaster areas and are covered by this grant include:  Fayette, Floyd, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Orange, Perry, Porter, Scott, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick.