The Emergency Public Jobs (EPJ) National Emergency Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor provided the help needed to clean up flood and storm damage that occurred in 2008. Under the EPJ grant, Iowa Comprehensive Human Services (ICHS) employed 157 dislocated workers and long-term unemployed persons at 17 worksites in Polk, Boone, Story, Jasper, Marion and Madison counties from August 2008 through June 2010, when the grant ended. The labor and equipment purchases and rentals were provided free to the worksites, some of which were not eligible for any other government assistance.

The type of work completed at worksites included removal of debris from rivers and ditches, moving and replacing riprap rock on embankments, restoring and painting picnic tables and damaged buildings, moving dirt and sandbags, repairing bike and horse trails, plus a lot of tree debris sawing and removal. The types of worksites included state parks, youth camps, county conservation and public works agencies. ICHS also assisted the long-term recovery efforts by providing the people and equipment to administer the Unmet Needs grant for those disaster-declared counties that had no long-term recovery centers. ICHS also provided help to the Department of Human Services in processing the vouchers for those across the state who qualified for the Unmet Needs funds.

Even though the work has ended, those who were employed under the EPJ grant are eligible for vocational training and education assistance through June 30, 2011. If an EPJ worker has not been able to enter into full-time employment, the grant allows the opportunity to enroll in the training of their choice as long as it is in an in-demand occupation. The most popular training choices of EPJ workers has been attending classes for obtaining a Commercial Drivers License (over-the-road trucking) and Information Technology (IT) education. The EPJ grant allows for mileage reimbursement to and from classes as well as for tuition, books and tools required for classes. The option to receive post-secondary education assistance has made several EPJ workers more employable at a time there is more competition for every job.

One of the EPJ workers wrote to ICHS about the experience both she and her husband (both dislocated workers) had under the program. ȁWithout these jobs my husband and I would not be able to support our family. I’m positive we would have lost our home along with our self esteem. With the support we are receiving through this program it is helping us get back on our feet while gaining valuable work experience for us both. “ Her comments touch upon the heart of the work-experience program, which is the opportunity to continue to make house and car payments, buy groceries, pay utility bills and on the list goes. Work-experience programs give back to the community and the economy in a way that “bail-out” plans cannot. The workers can continue to make purchases, pay bills and taxes, which has a great impact in the smaller communities hit hard by lay-offs and plant closures.

The state of Iowa again has requested monies under another Department of Labor National Emergency Grant for the floods and storms of 2010. Polk county and the surrounding seven counties are all part of this year’s disaster declaration. So, ICHS may have the opportunity again of providing assistance to locations affected by the floods and storms as well work experience to those without jobs.

Contact Person: Teresa Burke