Hundreds of Minnesotans, many permanently laid off as a result of nine recent plant and store closings, will get the help they need to return to work from the Minnesota Dislocated Worker Program. Thirteen grants will assist 733 former workers, the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) announced.
?We want Minnesotans who are facing one of the most emotionally-charged events in their lives to know there are still resources available,? said DTED Commissioner Matt Kramer. ?These grants support a wide variety of services needed to help laid-off workers get back to work as quickly as possible.?
The 13 Dislocated Worker Program projects include:
Blandin, Grand Rapids, $288,000. About 180 former Blandin employees will have access to customized training programs, strategic job search planning and job seeking skills, and mature-worker services.
Smurfit-Stone Container, St. Paul, $255,000. About 85 former employees of the corrugated and solid-fiber box manufacturer will be helped, including those who need career assessment and evaluation; basic-skills and computer training; and mature-worker services. Smurfit-Stone will close the St. Paul manufacturing plant and consolidate production.
Kodak, Minneapolis, $224,000. Due to a corporate restructuring and cost-saving plan, the Kodak Processing Lab in North Minneapolis is closed, and 70 former photo-processing employees will receive assistance obtaining additional education or training to return to work. Assessment, labor market information, career counseling, job search skills training, and workshops on a variety of dislocated-worker issues will be offered.
GE Interlogix, North St. Paul, $220,000. About 110 former employees will be helped with the grant, including those who need English-language skills and upgraded technical, computer, and job skills. Among those affected by the downsizing are: assembly workers, professional and technical personnel, warehouse and distribution, and managerial and administrative personnel.
Precision Diversified Industries, Plymouth, $160,000. Fifty former Precision Diversified Industries employees will receive customized return-to-employment services. Those affected include engineers, technical workers, administrative assistants, sales personnel, human resources and finance professionals, and maintenance staff. Precision Diversified Industries closed their Plymouth facility due to reduced demand for printed circuit boards, permanently laying off 79 workers.
Kmart, Shakopee, $126,000. About 45 former employees will be helped, including those who need assistance overcoming skill- and age-related barriers to finding another job. Personalized job development and job placement services will be available. Kmart has closed its store in Shakopee.
Land O?Lakes, Perham, $112,000. The grant will serve 35 former Whey Products Division employees by providing assistance to those under qualified by education or training; and those who need career assessment and vocational counseling, upgraded skills, and mature-worker and veterans services. About 50 workers lost their jobs when Land O?Lakes Whey Products Division closed in January.
Caterpillar Paving Products, Brooklyn Park and Champlin, $112,000. The grant will assist 35 former employees affected by international competition and economic downturn. Opportunities for retraining, career assessment, labor market information, job search skills training, and workshops on a variety of job search issues will be available.
Western Digital Dislocated Worker Project, Rochester, $102,400. About 32 Western Digital employees will receive assistance, including those who want to start their own business, retrain for a new career, and access mature-worker and family-supportive services. The Rochester facility closure resulted from the consolidation with a California-based facility.
Bethany Fellowship International, Bloomington, $90,000. About 30 former employees of Bethany Fellowship International?s publishing division will be helped, including those who need career assessment and assistance in obtaining additional education or training; upgraded computer skills; and mature-worker services. Due to reorganization, Bethany has sold its publishing division.
Arcadia Financial Ltd., Eden Prairie, $84,000. The grant will be used to increase the levels of education and training for 30 former workers. Individual career counseling, and job search and placement services will be available.
Miller Bag Company, Minneapolis, $40,000. The grant will serve 20 former employees by providing assistance to those under qualified by education or training; and those experiencing employment barriers due to limited English-language proficiency. Those affected include workers in the machine trades, benchwork and assembly workers, and professional and technical staff. Miller Bag Company manufactured industrial textile bags and packaging for original equipment manufacturers. The Minneapolis manufacturing facility closed due to international competition.
J.C. Penney, St. Paul, $34,837. The grant, which will serve 11 former J.C. Penney employees, will focus on individual career assessment and job-search activities, especially for long-term employees. J.C. Penney has closed its store in the Sun Ray Shopping Center, St. Paul.
The Dislocated Worker Program, which is both state and federally funded, is administered through the Workforce Development Division of DTED. Grants are distributed through the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board. The program assists workers in finding new jobs as quickly as possible. Services provided to dislocated workers include: assessment, testing, job counseling, job development and job search; and classroom, on the job, basic skills, and literacy training. Support services, including assistance with paying health insurance, child care, transportation, and other emergency needs, may also be available.
For more information
Visit the Dislocated Worker Program website.
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Hundreds of Minnesotans, many permanently laid off as a result of nine recent plant and store closings, will get the help they need to return to work from the Minnesota Dislocated Worker Program. Thirteen grants will assist 733 former workers, the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) announced.
?We want Minnesotans who are facing one of the most emotionally-charged events in their lives to know there are still resources available,? said DTED Commissioner Matt Kramer. ?These grants support a wide variety of services needed to help laid-off workers get back to work as quickly as possible.?
The 13 Dislocated Worker Program projects include:
Blandin, Grand Rapids, $288,000. About 180 former Blandin employees will have access to customized training programs, strategic job search planning and job seeking skills, and mature-worker services.
Smurfit-Stone Container, St. Paul, $255,000. About 85 former employees of the corrugated and solid-fiber box manufacturer will be helped, including those who need career assessment and evaluation; basic-skills and computer training; and mature-worker services. Smurfit-Stone will close the St. Paul manufacturing plant and consolidate production.
Kodak, Minneapolis, $224,000. Due to a corporate restructuring and cost-saving plan, the Kodak Processing Lab in North Minneapolis is closed, and 70 former photo-processing employees will receive assistance obtaining additional education or training to return to work. Assessment, labor market information, career counseling, job search skills training, and workshops on a variety of dislocated-worker issues will be offered.
GE Interlogix, North St. Paul, $220,000. About 110 former employees will be helped with the grant, including those who need English-language skills and upgraded technical, computer, and job skills. Among those affected by the downsizing are: assembly workers, professional and technical personnel, warehouse and distribution, and managerial and administrative personnel.
Precision Diversified Industries, Plymouth, $160,000. Fifty former Precision Diversified Industries employees will receive customized return-to-employment services. Those affected include engineers, technical workers, administrative assistants, sales personnel, human resources and finance professionals, and maintenance staff. Precision Diversified Industries closed their Plymouth facility due to reduced demand for printed circuit boards, permanently laying off 79 workers.
Kmart, Shakopee, $126,000. About 45 former employees will be helped, including those who need assistance overcoming skill- and age-related barriers to finding another job. Personalized job development and job placement services will be available. Kmart has closed its store in Shakopee.
Land O?Lakes, Perham, $112,000. The grant will serve 35 former Whey Products Division employees by providing assistance to those under qualified by education or training; and those who need career assessment and vocational counseling, upgraded skills, and mature-worker and veterans services. About 50 workers lost their jobs when Land O?Lakes Whey Products Division closed in January.
Caterpillar Paving Products, Brooklyn Park and Champlin, $112,000. The grant will assist 35 former employees affected by international competition and economic downturn. Opportunities for retraining, career assessment, labor market information, job search skills training, and workshops on a variety of job search issues will be available.
Western Digital Dislocated Worker Project, Rochester, $102,400. About 32 Western Digital employees will receive assistance, including those who want to start their own business, retrain for a new career, and access mature-worker and family-supportive services. The Rochester facility closure resulted from the consolidation with a California-based facility.
Bethany Fellowship International, Bloomington, $90,000. About 30 former employees of Bethany Fellowship International?s publishing division will be helped, including those who need career assessment and assistance in obtaining additional education or training; upgraded computer skills; and mature-worker services. Due to reorganization, Bethany has sold its publishing division.
Arcadia Financial Ltd., Eden Prairie, $84,000. The grant will be used to increase the levels of education and training for 30 former workers. Individual career counseling, and job search and placement services will be available.
Miller Bag Company, Minneapolis, $40,000. The grant will serve 20 former employees by providing assistance to those under qualified by education or training; and those experiencing employment barriers due to limited English-language proficiency. Those affected include workers in the machine trades, benchwork and assembly workers, and professional and technical staff. Miller Bag Company manufactured industrial textile bags and packaging for original equipment manufacturers. The Minneapolis manufacturing facility closed due to international competition.
J.C. Penney, St. Paul, $34,837. The grant, which will serve 11 former J.C. Penney employees, will focus on individual career assessment and job-search activities, especially for long-term employees. J.C. Penney has closed its store in the Sun Ray Shopping Center, St. Paul.
The Dislocated Worker Program, which is both state and federally funded, is administered through the Workforce Development Division of DTED. Grants are distributed through the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board. The program assists workers in finding new jobs as quickly as possible. Services provided to dislocated workers include: assessment, testing, job counseling, job development and job search; and classroom, on the job, basic skills, and literacy training. Support services, including assistance with paying health insurance, child care, transportation, and other emergency needs, may also be available.
For more information
Visit the Dislocated Worker Program website.