WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The federal government on Thursday announced a $10 million national emergency grant to help workers in Virginia displaced by the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon that killed 125 people and cost the state's economy more than $1 billion.
The grant will provide approximately $5 million for localities in Northern Virginia and another $5 million for the rest of the state.
Gov. Jim Gilmore, R-Va., joined U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao at a ceremony Thursday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., to announce the aid package.
"The terrorist attack on the Pentagon set off an economic shockwave here in Northern Virginia that is rippling throughout the state," Gilmore said. "This assistance will make a real difference in the lives of many Virginians, by providing job search assistance, career counseling and job training."
Since last month's attacks, Virginia's economy has lost $1.2 billion and there have been more than 5,000 new unemployment claims. In addition, 35,000 Virginians have filed unemployment claims since the attack. That is more than double the figure during the same period as last year.
Gilmore added, "We're fighting not only to defend against the physical threat of terrorism, but the threat to our way of life, including our economy."
Last month, Gilmore requested $3.18 billion in federal assistance for Virginia in the aftermath of the attacks. The request included $1.2 billion for direct and indirect costs as a result of the attack itself, $380 million to stimulate Virginia's economy and $1.6 billion to minimize potential damage from future terrorist attacks.
