Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas In response to damage caused by wildfires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today announced the agency has requested $1423992 in Disaster Relief Employment from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
to fund 60 temporary jobs in the area an increase from the initial request for $712685. Disaster Relief Employment is the first phase of a disaster National Emergency Grant (NEG).
Initially NEG funds can be used to provide wages and benefits to eligible temporary jobs participants to fund supportive services (e.g. transportation clothing and other work-related support). NEG funds also may later be used to assist participants re-entry into the workforce.
If approved the NEG funds will be available to victims of wildfires in:
- Anderson
- Bastrop
- Cherokee
- Gregg
- Harrison
- Henderson
- Hill
- Houston
- Leon
- Marion
- Rusk
- Smith and
- Upshur counties.
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area will coordinate with local community partners to help provide food clothing shelter and related humanitarian services. Community efforts will include performing demolition work and cleaning repair renovation or reconstruction of damaged and destroyed public structures facilities and lands located within the designated disaster area.
TWC will continue to provide Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for those workers whose employment agricultural employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to the wildfires.
In addition TWC and the local workforce boards will continue to assist workers displaced as a result of the catastrophe by working with employers and partnering with local organizations to provide housing transportation and reintegration assistance.
