NJ's DEP uses federal emergency grant to hire residents to clean up Sandy-battered parks

The National Emergency Grant, a $15.6 million federal grant program awarded to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will provide work for at least 1,000 unemployed state residents, officials announced at a news conference held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City on Monday, March 18. Work will consist of post-Superstorm Sandy cleanup jobs.

Photo via NJLWD
Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths speaks at a
press conference about the NEG, which is being
used to help the state DEP hire residents to
clean-up storm-battered parks.

So far, 700 people within the state’s 16 storm-battered counties have been hired through the program. Officials said the state Department of Environmental Protection is using the grant to hire nearly 80 unemployed residents to help renovate state parks damaged by Sandy. The DEP is placing workers at its two busiest parks, Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, as well as others. Repairing dunes, clearing debris and refurbishing walkways and trails are some of the assigned duties.

“It makes us feel so good to get these people back to work,” said Labor Commissioner Harold Wirths.

Employees hired through the program are estimated to work for approximately six months. Some could earn up to $12,000. Applications are still being processed, and representatives anticipate filling many positions with a range of state organizations within the next few weeks.

Officials also plan to ask for extra funds to hire additional people.

According to information released by the labor department, New Jersey’s unemployment rate lingered at 9.5 percent in January, even though employers added 2,600 staff members to their payrolls. That’s higher than the nation’s unemployment rate, which was 7.9 percent in January.

Ocean County residents interested in applying for employment should visit the local One-Stop Career Center in Toms River.

For more information, log onto jobs4jersey.com, or call 877-682-6238 or 800-233-5005 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Email sandyhelp@dol.state.nj.us with any further questions.

This article was published in The SandPaper.