| CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch announced today that the state has applied for a federal grant to assist workers who will be laid off from the Wausau Paper mill in Groveton at the end of the year. The U.S. Department of Labor must approve the application.
If the National Emergency Grant application is approved it will make available $660,000 in federal funds which can be used for assistance including counseling, job search and job training services for the 303 workers at the mill. The U.S. Secretary of Labor can provide a National Emergency Grant when there has been a significant job loss in a community
“This is an extremely difficult time for the workers, their families and the entire region. New Hampshire state government is committed to doing everything possible to assist workers, their families and the community. If approved, this federal grant would provide additional support for our efforts to get workers into new jobs as quickly as possible,” Gov. Lynch said
The NEG application is in addition to an application for Trade Act certification, which, if approved, will provide additional training resources to the Groveton workers including career counseling, training, income support during training, job search assistance, access to a health coverage tax credits and relocation allowances.
In addition, the state has opened a Worker Assistance Center at the mill, which is offering counseling, workshops, training classes and job search assistance to workers.
The state Division of Economic Development’s Business Recruitment Team is preparing a plan to attract a new company to the Wausau site. The division has also been actively engaged in trying to recruit new businesses to the North Country.
|
