Governor Andrew Cuomo announced an additional program over the weekend that makes federal National Emergency Grant (NEG) funds available in New York State, including Rockland County. The purpose of these funds is to help the clean up and recovery of communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy and to put unemployed New Yorkers back to work. (The resources available through this grant would be above and beyond the FEMA grants.)
"The devastation many you have been dealing with since last Sunday has
been tremendous," said Stanley J. Jacoby, Executive Director of the Rockland Workforce Investment Board. "Hurricane Sandy has brought unprecedented damage to our county, and as a result, many of your municipalities have projects that require immediate attention."
The Rockland Workforce Investment Board office will be coordinating this grant with County Executive Vanderhoef’s Office, Tomorrow’s Workplace and NYS Department of Labor.
Jacoby sent out a letter to all Mayors and Town Supervisors in Rockland County stating that they "can begin preparing a list of work that your municipality might need to do {e.g., project scope of what and where work needs to be done, number of temporary employees and skills needed and associated number of hours, time frame and duration, cost (including administration and
supervisory time, equipment and supplies for workers, etc)}."
Similar NEG grants for clean-up activities associated with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee were previously awarded within the county. Rockland Workforce Investment Board, which reports to Rockland County Executive Vanderhoef and is focal point for unemployment and reemployment matters within the county, served as the administrator for the four municipalities that took advantage of this program (Towns of Clarkstown, Ramapo, and Orangetown, and Village of Spring Valley).
"We encourage all of you to consider applying for these current NEG grants if your municipality is in need of such support. In order to maximize this opportunity, please let us know as soon as possible if you might have an interest in participating in this program. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we might be able to assist you," he said. "This is an opportunity for your community to access additional labor to assist in clean-up projects made necessary as a result of damage from Hurricane Sandy. It is also important since it will help to put some of our residents back to work and to put some dollars into the Rockland economy."
If you have been fortunate to not been affected by this storm please consider making a donation. Donations can be made via: Check or Money Order made payable to the Rockland Community Foundation, P.O. Box 323, New City, NY 10956 or by Credit card or PayPal at http://www.rocklandgives.org. Contributions remain here in Rockland for those who need it most. If you are in need of assistance or know of someone who does, you can download a crisis relief grant application at www.rocklandgives.org We will be making grants to individuals and non-profits as follows: Community Crisis Relief Fund - Individuals and non-profit organizations North Rockland Emergency Fund - Individuals and non-profit organizations Active Cares Fund - Non-profit organizations only Boulders Fund - Non-profit organizations only Applications will be reviewed weekly, and grants made as funds are available, until further notice. Applications can be accessed via any of the following: • The Rockland Community Foundation website: www.rocklandgives.org • email: info@rocklandgives.org • phone: 845-947-286 • Rockland County Town and Village Halls (in person after November 8)