Grant Awarded to Arkansas for Tornado Recovery

The U.S. Labor Department has given $702,741 to help Arkansas recover from tornadoes and severe storms that hit the state last May and June.

The agency said Wednesday the National Emergency Grant is being given to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, which can hire temporary employees to aid in the cleanup effort.

Labor officials say that, with money released earlier, the grant totals more than $1 million and should cover 61 positions.

Storms that brought flooding rains and tornadoes hit the state between May 30 and June 3 last year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency declared 11 counties eligible for aid under its Public Assistance Program, and the current grant targets Cleburne, Independence, Polk, Scott, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren and Woodruff counties.