Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, December 19, 2012

U.S. Secretary Of Labor Visits Midland Beach

Photo by Daniel Avila

On November 29, United States Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis visited the Midland Beach neighborhood of Staten Island that was affected by Hurricane Sandy.

In the aftermath of the storm, Secretary Solis announced the U.S. Department of Labor’s plan to release funding through their National Emergency Grant. They issued a grant for $27 million to the New York State Department of Labor to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts. NYC Parks, along with Small Business Services, saw this as a great opportunity to hire individuals in need of employment while bolstering our workforce and aiding in recovery efforts.

During her visit, Secretary Solis met with Parks & Recreation Commissioner Veronica White and some of the newly hired employees under this program. Secretary Solis said the federal government is trying to reach different parts of the population to let them know about opportunities arising through recovery efforts following Sandy.

“The President reiterated the importance and significance of us working on a broader scale to make sure that we really reach the vulnerable populations, that we really provide jobs,” she said. “This is an opportunity to help build back infrastructure, housing, and to help provide incentives for more economic development.”

The Parks Personnel team crafted and executed a hiring plan in only a few short days. They were responsible for hiring 788 individuals at five locations in eight days at one NYC public housing recreation center in Brooklyn, one public library in Brooklyn, and three SBS Workforce One sites in Staten Island, Jamaica, and Downtown Brooklyn.

Thanks to these efforts and the availability of these funds, more New Yorkers are being put to work helping to rebuild those communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy.