Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a federal grant of $13,896,148 for the New York State Department of Labor to hire approximately 1,400 dislocated workers to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy in Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland Counties.
“This federal funding will deliver a one-two punch in New York’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Sandy, by investing in cleanup and recovery efforts and putting 1,400 New Yorkers to work,” Senator Schumer said. “The devastation and damage to homes, trees, infrastructure and buildings on Long Island, in New York City and the Hudson Valley is unimaginable, and this funding will help get all hands on deck to clean up and get on track to rebuild.”
“This is a smart investment to put New Yorkers back to work cleaning up our communities and helping their own neighbors,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These 1,400 boots on the ground will help rebuild the millions of homes and businesses, and roads and bridges in every corner of our communities that took the worst of Hurricane Sandy. These federal funds will go a long way in getting more homes out from under the debris so we can continue on the path to recovery.”
The federal funding may be used to provide temporary employment on projects to assist with clean-up, demolition, repair, renovation, and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities, and lands within the affected communities, as well as to deliver humanitarian aid and safety assistance, as needed.
In addition, these funds may be used to perform work on the homes of economically disadvantaged individuals who are eligible for the Federally-funded weatherization program, with priority given to services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.