Many of you may have seen the recent news that the U.S. Department of Labor just announced a National Emergency Grant (NEG) award of up to $50 Million to Florida in response to a grant application submitted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) in collaboration with Workforce Florida, Inc. (WFI) and the Regional Workforce Boards (RWBs) in the areas devastated by Hurricane Charley [press release is at http://www.floridajobs.org/resources/emergency/NEG_award.htm].

Under the terms of the grant, NEG funds are being passed down to the affected RWBs, and they will then operate or subcontract for the operation of hiring and supervising temporary workers to assist with cleanup and humanitarian services. Preference in hiring goes to those who have lost their jobs due to the hurricane, and then other dislocated workers and long-term unemployed. The hiring mechanisms are just now being set up and interested job applicants can get and submit Temporary Job Interest Form at the One-Stops, Mobile Van One-Stops and other alternate sites where workforce services are now being provided. Then those submitting the forms will be contacted for interviews, etc. The kinds of temp jobs will be laborers/drivers for cleanup activities, esp. for city, county, state, municipal, school cleanup/repair/restoration activities, and some office worker/clerk, social service aides to help with humanitarian services. The jobs will be paid prevailing wages for similar jobs (not minimum wage), and can last no more than 6 month or pay more that $12K to any individual.

The RWBS in the affected areas (see workforce emergency website and directory of RWBs at http://www.floridajobs.org/resources/emergency/) will also be contacting local government and social service organizations to determine what temp staffing help they can use, and interested FBCOs may want to make direct contact to notify RWBs of your needs. However, recognize that the RWB staffs and facilities in the affected areas, esp. Charlotte County and along the Northwest track into Orange County, have also been devastated and are now themselves getting reorganized. So be patient and considerate in making contact. The emergency site above is an excellent source of updated info on workforce services and status.