CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today applauded the approval of a National Emergency Grant to help the 303 workers who will be laid off from the Wausau Paper mill in Groveton at the end of the year.

The State of New Hampshire submitted an application for the grant on Tuesday. The grant makes available $660,000 in federal funds that can be used for assistance including counseling, job search and job training services for the workers at the mill.

“This grant will provide additional support for our efforts to get workers into new jobs as quickly as possible,” Gov. Lynch said. “The State of New Hampshire is committed to doing all we can to help these hard-working, dependable and skilled workers find new jobs and assist the community.”

Earlier today, Gov. Lynch sent a letter to 5,400 North Country businesses as part of the state’s continuing efforts to assist the workers and the town of Groveton. The letter asks the businesses to work with the state’s Rapid Response Team to fill any job openings they may have.

The letter also ask businesses to notify the Rapid Response Team if they need assistance because their companies are suffering as a result of the mill’s impending closure.

The NEG grant 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 in the process of implementing 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.