Scioto County is one of the counties eligible to apply for jobs factored into a $16.2 million grant announced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

The Department of Labor funds will create temporary clean-up and recovery jobs related to the severe storms and flooding this spring.

Dislocated workers in Scioto, Athens, Belmont, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Ross, Vinton and Washington counties are eligible to apply for positions.

Brown said the National Emergency Grant (NEG) has been awarded to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to create jobs and help the state recover from this spring’s severe storms and flooding in southern Ohio. The funds are expected to create up to 1,144 temporary positions for Ohioans.

“This past spring, more than 20 Ohio counties saw severe rainstorms and flooding that led to damaged homes, farms, small businesses and public buildings,” Brown said. “These federal resources from the Department of Labor will not only put dislocated employees back to work, but will help restore and clean up the dozens of Ohio communities that were affected by these storms.”

According to the DOL, Ohio will receive $16,233,360 with $3,500,000 released initially, creating about 1,144 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers. The funds will 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. Funds may also be used to provide job search assistance and retraining services upon completion of the temporary jobs component for participants for whom permanent work is not available.

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.