WILTON – The federal government has awarded a grant to the state to help serve G.H. Bass & Co. workers in Franklin and Cumberland counties. It was one of two National Emergency Grants the Maine Department of Labor has been awarded this week to help dislocated workers.

Congressman Michael Michaud announced that the U.S. Department of Labor awarded an initial emergency grant of $300,536 and up to $731,073 to help assist about 116 dislocated workers from G.H. Bass who have requested assistance.

The grant provides dislocated workers with immediate recruitment, outreach, job assessment, job search assistance, basic skills training and classroom training.

Bass parent company Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. announced in December that it would shut down its Maine operations in the spring 2004 eliminating more than 250 workers in Wilton and South Portland.

The last million pairs of shoes are expected to be shipped out of the Bass Distribution Center in Wilton during the first two weeks of May. By the end of May, about 75 employees there will lose their jobs.

The second National Emergency Grant award of $217,178 and up to $796,320 would help provide about 80 dislocated workers from Tyson Foods, Adelphia Communication, American Shoe and Solon Manufacturing with additional assistance.

Maine’s congressional delegation had supported awarding these emergency grants to help workers.
dperry@sunjournal.com

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