Southern Illinois to get $2.2 million for 2011 flood recovery

Southern Illinois will receive a $2,285,489 supplemental National Emergency Grant to fund continuing recovery efforts following storms and flooding that affected the region in April and May last year. The funds, from the U.S. Department of Labor, are being awarded to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create additional temporary jobs for cleanup work and to help workers find permanent employment after their temporary jobs end. The Labor Department awarded an initial $2 million National Emergency Grant on June 30 to the same agency to fund a first round of temporary jobs. National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund. Twenty-one counties will benefit from the funding, including Alexander, Union and Jackson counties.