Sunday afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office announced that a $27 million federal grant will allow New York State to hire 5,000 young and unemployed residents to clear debris and distribute supplies in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. “This is a neighbor helping neighbor effort. Local people, who don’t have jobs, helping out in hard-hit communities and getting paid for it,” explained Peter Rivera, the state’s labor commissioner. The positions will pay about $15-per-hour and could last up to six months. Eight-hundred New Yorkers are already signed up for the program, and some will begin work across New York City, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley as soon as Monday. “We need to get the word out as quickly as we can,” added Rivera. We’re happy to help — applications are available here.
