Audit: It Took 15 Tries For New Jersey To Get Sandy Grant Extended

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A new federal audit shows New Jersey had to submit an application to extend one post-Superstorm Sandy aid program 15 times before it was approved.

The report issued Monday on the Employment and Training Administration's process calls for some changes to make it easier for applicants.

The audit shows the state ran into technical glitches and that it failed to provide complete information for the grant dedicated to putting unemployed residents into rebuilding jobs.

State Deputy Labor Commissioner Aaron Fichtner tells NJ.com the process was complicated and that the issues in the end amounted to a "pretty minor hiccup'' for the state.

The state issued layoff notices when the grant was uncertain but no workers lost their jobs because of it.

New Jersey was approved for $15 million in November 2012, just days after Sandy devastated the state. The money was used to hire unemployed residents to do cleanup work.

It was eventually extended until the end of 2014.

New Jersey received $19.2 million from the program. The money was used to put 1,000 people to work.

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