RUMFORD – As the layoffs of up to 100 paper mill workers at NewPage Corp. began Thursday, announcement was made that the federal government will kick in more than $300,000 to provide retraining and other benefits for them, as well as increase services for others in the area looking for jobs.

Statements from Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and Rep. Michael Michaud’s offices, said that about $325,000 in a National Emergency Grant would be awarded to the Maine Department of Labor. That money, which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be administered by the Central/Western Maine Workforce Investment Board.

Adam Fisher, spokesman for the Maine Department of Labor, said strategies for use of the money are currently being worked out. Such grants provide items including mileage reimbursement, child care and other services above and beyond the benefits provided by the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for which displaced mill workers also qualify.

He said National Emergency Grants help the Department of Labor to serve the secondary work force, which means those who don’t work at the mill but are affected by layoffs there. He said the Department of Labor applies for the grants when there is a large-scale layoff.

Janet Hall, spokeswoman for the mill, said her company had not yet received notice of the grant.

“We’re trying to track down the release, but we’re glad to hear of it,” she said.

An unidentified number of laid-off employees were attending a Rapid Response session at the Mexico Town Hall when Local 900 Union President Matt Bean was contacted. He said some employees were laid off Thursday, and others will be held for training.

Neither Bean nor Hall could say how many people were affected Thursday.

Hall said Rapid Response sessions are for people who are directly affected by the layoffs. She said representatives from the Department of Labor outline services available.

Whether another Rapid Response session will be held will be determined by the end of the day, she said.

Mill spokespeople announced the temporary shutdown of the No. 10 paper machine last week and the potential of eliminating up to 100 positions, although not necessarily 100 people. The shutdown begins Sept. 18 for an indefinite amount of time. The No. 15 machine, which has been running five days a week, is scheduled to begin running seven days a week at that time.

The local mill has experienced a number of layoffs in recent months due to the volatile coated paper market. With the most recent round, the number of employees is estimated to be fewer than 800.

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