FARMINGTON – At least 16 people who worked for Northeast Wood Turning in West Farmington are out of work, according news releases from Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. The factory that manufactured wooden handles, craft items and other turned wood products closed its doors Thursday.

Both senators wrote letters to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao requesting assistance for the workers through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.

The program is designed to assist individuals who have lost jobs to foreign countries. To facilitate a rapid return to work, certified workers may receive income support, relocation and job search allowances, and a health coverage tax credit. Participants who require retraining to find suitable employment may also be eligible to receive occupational training.

According to a letter dated Jan. 5 from Collins, “the company has experienced a decline in production as a result of foreign competition and cites competition from China as the primary reason for its closure.”

Attempts to reach representatives from the plant were unsuccessful Thursday.

According to Maine Department of Labor statistics, Franklin County, with an average unemployment rate of 5.9 percent for the first 11 months of 2004, ranks as one of the three state counties with the highest unemployment rates. And that rate has been steadily increasing since July, when the rate was at its lowest for the year at 4.8. It skyrocketed to 6.8 percent in November, lower than only Somerset and Washington counties.

“Given the impact that the Northeast Wood Turning’s closure will have on a region that has already suffered significantly from recent layoffs, I urge you to act favorably on the company’s petition for assistance,” wrote Collins to Chao.

Workers from the plant have been invited to a rapid response session at 1 p.m. Friday at the Wilton CareerCenter – an orientation of sorts to provide workers with information about unemployment benefits, health insurance, labor market information and CareerCenter services, including resume writing and consumer counseling.