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(AP) - The federal government has authorized a $3
million emergency grant for a displaced worker program in parts of
southeastern Minnesota affected by flooding last month, Sen. Norm
Coleman announced Thursday.

      The grant will fund around 300 temporary jobs for eligible
dislocated workers to help in the cleanup and recovery efforts. The
first $1 million will be awarded in the next few days to the state
Department of Employment and Economic Development, which will run
the program.

      "This grant from the Department of Labor will not only provide
a major boost to ongoing recovery and cleanup efforts, it will also
provide much-needed employment opportunities for affected workers -
a true win-win for the region," Coleman said in a statement.

      Eligible counties include Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele,
Wabasha and Winona. Severe storms brought flash floods that swept
through the area beginning Aug. 18.

      The grant funds can also be used for retraining services after
the temporary jobs are over for participants who can't return to
work.


      In a separate statement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
said more than $7.7 million in other federal recovery funds have
been made available so far to individuals in the seven counties
covered by a presidential disaster declaration. Those counties also
include Dodge County.

      By the close of business Wednesday, over 3,000 people in the
designated counties had registered for federal assistance programs,
FEMA said.

      Dodge County was added to the list of counties eligible for the
Disaster Unemployment Assistance program on Thursday. The other six
counties qualified earlier.

Gallery

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State speeds up payments to flood-damaged towns and counties

Floods leave victims high and dry when it comes to insurance coverage

SE Minnesota declared a disaster area

Rushford asks: 'Will they be there' to help?

The emergency grant from the federal government will fund around 300 temporary jobs for eligible
dislocated workers to help in the cleanup and recovery efforts.

$3 million grant coming for displaced workers in flood area

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