Federal Grant Will Help NY Rebuild After Sandy and Provide Jobs to Unemployed

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced that New York has received $27.7 million from the federal government to put 5,000 unemployed New Yorkers to work cleaning up communities impacted by the storm. The funding came from a National Emergency Grant and will be administered by the New York State Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL will work with local communities to identify potential workers for this program.

“This aid will help rebuild our communities and provide income and work experience to thousands of unemployed New Yorkers,” said Senator Stewart-Cousins. “Entire communities were devastated by the storm and many families continue to struggle even today, but the outpouring of support has been inspiring. This grant taps into that support and presents an opportunity for individuals who are unemployed to help their fellow New Yorkers rebuild and rebuild better.”

Applicants must have lost their job as a result of Hurricane Sandy or have been previously unemployed for 27 weeks prior to the storm to be eligible for a job through this program. Workers will be paid approximately $15 per hour and will work on short and long term projects cleaning and repairing damaged infrastructure and buildings in the nine New York counties which were declared disaster areas. These are not permanent jobs, but each worker will receive assistance in finding their next job at completion.

Those who are interested in applying can contact the Department of Labor by phone at

1-888-4-NYSDOL (1-888-469-7365) or fill out an application online at https://www.labor.ny.gov/secure/ne+g/2012-hurricane-sandy-form.asp.