Flint water crisis: Federal government gives $15 million to help troubled community

Grant to be used to hire Flint residents to help repair the crisis and for further employment training.

The US Department of Labor has given up to $15 million to Flint to help clean up the water crisis. (Getty Images)

Residents of Flint, Michigan should soon be getting more federal aid, as the US Department of Labor has said it will give up to $15 million to help clean up the city's water contamination crisis.

The grant was given to hire about 400 temporary workers to assist in recovery efforts and to provide training services to help those employees find permanent work, the labor department said in a statement. To start, $7.5 million will be made available, while the remainder would be given if the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance.

"National Dislocated Worker Grants are an important way that the federal government cas assist workers, businesses and entire communities as they recover from crisis," US Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said in a statement. "The investments...will help the people of Flint repair the physical damage and care for their neighbors, while also helping put area workers back on track to sustainable careers in and around the community they love."

Water in Flint became contaminated with lead after the city switched its water source from Detroit's system to the Flint River in 2014 to save the impoverished city money. Water from the Flint River had not been treated and it leached lead from antiquated pipes, bringing it into homes and businesses in the city.

Children in Flint who have been tested have shown elevated levels of lead in their blood, which can cause learning disabilities and other problems. Flint residents have been required to use bottled water to cook, drink and bathe since the contamination was made public.

The temporary jobs created by the labor department will encompass delivering water, water filters and lead-testing kits to residents with contaminated water. Duties could include repairing the damaged water lines and clean up, the department said.

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