ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Associated General Contractors of America last month established the Hurricane Katrina Construction Workers Fund to provide financial assistance to the construction workers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who suffered financially from the disaster.

Many of the workers likely to benefit from this fund will be employed to participate in the cleanup and restoration of the cities and towns suffering damage.

“As these construction workers are helping to rebuild their hometowns, we will be able to offer them assistance to restore their own homes,” said AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr.

Construction employment in the three states totaled nearly 275,000 in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of those employees are without income in the short term while attempting to rebuild their homes and replace furniture, clothing and household goods.

Contributions should be made to the AGC Education and Research Foundation. More information can be obtained at www.agc.org/donate.