WILTON – More than 30 people came together Tuesday to brainstorm ideas to aid dislocated workers at G.H. Bass & Co. distribution center. Though discussion centered on helping employees, there was an underlying buzz of optimism for the area.

Town Manager Peter Nielsen and state Rep. Thomas Saviello, D-Wilton, both said there was an effort under way to create jobs at the Bass plant.

Bass has offered to sell the Weld Street plant to the town. Talks are ongoing, Neilsen said.

If everything works out, Nielsen said, there is reason for optimism.

“This area is on the cusp of something really good happening,” Saviello said.

In the first two weeks of May, the Bass distribution center plans to ship out its last 1 million pairs of shoes. Half the employees will be laid off in mid-May and the other half at the end of the month.

The plant is in one of several targeted state Pine Tree Zones, designed to improve economic development.

The end result of Tuesday’s meeting was to plan a resource fair for Tuesday, May 25, to help Bass’ workers and others who have lost their jobs within the past year. That includes employees of Forster Inc. in Strong and Lauri toy manufacturing in Avon. The latter closed its doors last month.

Meeting places being considered are the Bass conference center at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington and the Bass building on Weld Street.

Organizers plan to call on social service agencies, educators, career planning organizations, businesses, churches, state and federal legislators and others to take part in the May fair.

Already a state rapid response team is involved in helping the Bass employees. A job fair is planned.

Nancy Morgan, United Way of the Tri-Valley Area’s executive director, organized Tuesday’s meeting. She said the agency wanted to do something more to help the Bass employees who have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to help people in the greater Franklin County community over the years.

Those gathered Tuesday also thought of ways to simplify the process for workers to find and use resources so not to overwhelm them. They even thought of soliciting businesses for free services or discount coupons for the dislocated workers.

Gloria Nile, who worked for Bass for 36 years, has been hired as the peer support person to keep ongoing contact with the workers before and after they’re laid off. She’ll be the one trying to keep the employees connected to resources, which all agreed was important.

“Once the people leave here, it’s going to be traumatic,” said Mary Richards, Bass human resource manager.

But the support exhibited Tuesday indicated that dislocated workers won’t be going the road alone.

“We’re here to help these people,” Morgan said.

Anyone interested in helping with the fair or donating items can contact Morgan at 778-5048.

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