(DENVER) — The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment announced today that it has received a $4.6 million National Emergency Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to launch a Flood Recovery Jobs Program.

The program will hire about 230 temporary workers to address clean up and recovery issues across Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Washington and Weld counties.  These nine counties were designated by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to receive public assistance.

Department of Labor and Employment Executive Director Ellen Golombek says that of the $4.6 million being allocated, $2.3 million is being initially released.  “After such devastation, the work ahead in many communities is staggering.  This grant will give us a chance to provide dislocated workers and long-term unemployed Coloradans with job opportunities assisting in their communities, addressing long-term recovery issues,” she says.  Also being targeted for inclusion are veterans and migrant seasonal farmworkers.

The National Emergency Grant was made available after reviewing the severity of the flood’s impact to communities and the accompanying hardship and damage the areas have sustained.  Workforce Centers in the nine affected counties are now engaged with county agencies and community-based organizations in identifying eligible candidates for these temporary jobs.

All participants must meet federally determined eligibility guidelines before being hired for the temporary jobs.  Workforce Centers are also coordinating efforts in their local communities to identify eligible worksites in need of clean-up, restoration and/or repair.  Currently, the sites where workers are most needed are being prioritized.

Workers are being sought to operate equipment, clean and repair culverts, roads and levees, restore playgrounds and trails and supervise crews.  In addition to the jobs requiring physical labor, candidates will be recruited for humanitarian assistance jobs such as distributing food and clothing, helping secure shelter and other services and resources.  Some job seekers will even be hired to perform administrative functions that support disaster recovery efforts and the Disaster NEG program.

Wages of up to $12,000 per person for six months of employment will be made available through the grant and funds may also be available to help with transportation to the worksite, childcare, uniforms, tools, etc.

Learn more about the National Emergency Grant by contacting your local Workforce Center.  A complete list is available online at colorado.gov/cdle (click on “Workforce Center Services”).