Feds to pay unemployed residents to clean up fire damage

A federal grant will pay people who lost their jobs in Gatlinburg’s wildfires to help clean up the fire damage.

Officials already have begun distributing the $5.8 million grant, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, and which will be managed by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Walters State Community College.

The $5.8 million will be spent in chunks throughout the year. Right now, $2 million is available for dislocated workers around Sevier County.

“Our department’s workforce services division recognized funding was available through the Dislocated Worker Grant program and knew the money could play a big role in helping recovery efforts in Sevier County.” said Tennessee Labor Commissioner Burns Phillips.

The applicants must fill certain requirements to receive employment through the grant:

› Individuals who lost their jobs directly because of the wildfires, regardless of the county in which they reside, or

› Sevier County residents who are dislocated workers, meaning they lost their jobs directly or indirectly because of the wildfires, or

› Sevier County residents who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters State Community College, said the grant will help the county move forward in the recovery process.