Source: News & Observer
Democratic Governor Josh Stein announced the expansion of the Helene recovery temporary jobs program. The program provides funds to create jobs that focus on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Helene which made landfall in September and devastated western North Carolina.
The funds to create these jobs come from part of a $10 million Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant that was awarded to North Carolina by the U.S. Department of Labor after Helene tore through the state. The grant is to last a two year period.
The program initially covered 25 counties when it was announced in October but after the announcement from Stein, alongside the Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, the program will now be expanded to 39 counties.
The counties include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey.
“Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on communities and devastated people’s livelihoods,” said Governor Stein. “Unemployment in the west has spiked. This program will get folks back to work while helping their neighbors recover and rebuild.”
The jobs, that are 12 month contract jobs, are with non profit organizations and are meant to meet a variety of needs of western North Carolina. These jobs include debris removal, creek and stream cleanup, rebuilding, and humanitarian assistance.
Secretary Lilley affirms that recovering from Helene is the state’s top priority. “That includes helping people find work and rebuild their careers,” he said “Through this grant program, we are already placing workers in jobs that address storm damage and serve their communities, thanks to strong collaboration by employers, local workforce development boards, and NCWorks Career Centers.”
Residents in the 39 counties can apply to these recovery jobs by contacting their local NCWorks Career Centers, whose contact information can be found at www.ncworks.gov.
Read Stein’s official release on the program expansion here.
