By Donna M. Perry,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON - Northeast Wood Turning Inc.'s petition for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance for its laid-off workers has been certified by the federal government. Additionally, the company has been certified for assistance to help older workers with a wage subsidy if they're determined eligible.

The wood turning business on School Street, which made wooden handles, craft items and other turned wood products, closed its doors in early January, putting 16 people out of work.

A state Rapid Response Team plans a meeting later this month to help workers understand the program's benefits and how to apply for eligibility at the CareerCenter in Wilton, said Kathy Dostie, who oversees the trade adjustment program at the state level. Laid-off workers will be notified of the meeting, she said, once the time and day are confirmed.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance program gives displaced workers access to such benefits as reimbursement for training and related expenses, education, allowances for job search and relocation, re-employment services including counseling, interview training, and resume assistance.

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance is a program for workers 50 or older, she said. It's a wage subsidy that pays 50 percent of the difference between new wages and old wages, if the employee gains new full-time employment within 26 weeks of separation from Northeast Wood Turning Inc., Dostie said.

Each displaced worker has to apply for eligibility in the trade assistance programs and needs to do so in a certain time frame to lock in benefits, Dostie said.

U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Republicans from Maine, announced the approval of the federal assistance for the company's work group in a press release Monday.