Recognizing the monumental effort that debris removal will be in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is urging all companies who support debris removal, including those involved in debris hauling, monitoring and solid-waste management, to hire displaced and employment-seeking Floridians, locally.
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Many Floridians in Southwest Florida have had their businesses and livelihoods impacted by the storm and are looking for work – the private sector can help them get back on their feet by hiring locally for the length of recovery, which will support the local economy for at least the next six months.
Governor DeSantis also highlighted workforce recovery resources that have been made available to help Floridians whose jobs and businesses were impacted by Hurricane Ian through both CareerSource Florida and The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
Available resources in impacted areas include:
• Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Waiver of Work Search Requirements
• Mobile CareerSource Centers across the impacted areas, including at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
• Business Damage Assessment Survey
• Disaster Recovery Jobs Portal
DEO has made Disaster Unemployment Assistance available to Florida businesses and residents in FEMA disaster-declared counties. Additionally, DEO has temporarily waived requirements for work search reporting, Employ Florida registration and the waiting week for benefits to expedite relief to Floridians who lost jobs due to Hurricane Ian.
Governor DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, administered by DEO, making $50 million available to help businesses repair and reopen. At least $10 million of the loan program is dedicated to helping agricultural businesses that have been impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Through October 6, 1,881 businesses have already responded to the Business Damage Assessment Survey, and DEO had received 331 completed applications for Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans.
The CareerSource Florida network has deployed mobile career centers from across the state to storm-affected areas to assist Floridians with employment and business services.
These mobile units, directed by local workforce development board and DEO teams, have computers, internet service and skilled staff to help people apply for disaster recovery programs and grants as well as new employment opportunities.
Mobile units are currently supporting CareerSource Flagler Volusia’s operations, CareerSource Southwest Florida has a mobile unit in the Walmart parking lot on Tamiami Trail East in Naples. Others will be online shortly where needed.
Florida has also applied for the U.S. Department of Labor Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant program. This grant, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), primarily provides disaster relief employment in the form of temporary jobs to Floridians who were impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Disaster relief employment includes cleanup activities and humanitarian assistance.
These activities may involve:
• Restoration and repair of public buildings and lands, including tree removal, stump grinding, beach cleanup, replanting, traffic sign replacement and sidewalk repair;
• Debris removal and repairs to homes owned by low-income individuals to remove and mitigate damage that impacts the homes’ safety;
• Humanitarian assistance, including staffing of food banks, distribution centers and agencies providing clothing and other supplies;
• Assisting individuals affected by the storm with accessing resources; or
• Assisting businesses access resources.
Individuals who qualify for disaster relief employment are workers who are temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the disaster, dislocated workers, self-employed individuals who became unemployed or lost work due to the disaster, and individuals who have been unemployed long-term. ■