Snowe Urges National Emergency Grant Assistance for Prime Tanning Workers in Berwick
November 24, 2008
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) sent a letter today to Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao requesting the approval of the State of Maine’s request for National Emergency Grant (NEG) assistance for the 142 displaced workers at Prime Tanning in Berwick, Maine. The company ceased operations in Berwick as part of company-wide restructuring.
"National Emergency Grant funding is critically needed to support the reemployment efforts of the workers at Prime Tanning," Senator Snowe said. "We need to continue to work to ensure that the affected workers receive the assistance they need to help get them and their families through these most difficult times."
NEG funds are provided to states, at the discretion of the Secretary, to assist displaced workers with reemployment efforts, including recruitment, outreach, assessment, job skills transferability analysis, case management, business outreach and job development and placement.
The text of the letter is below:
November 24, 2008
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20210
Dear Secretary Chao:
I am writing on behalf of the 142 workers at Prime Tanning in Berwick, Maine, who lost their jobs when the company announced it would cease operations in Berwick as part of a company-wide restructuring.
I have been informed by the Maine Department of Labor that a proposal for a National Emergency Grant (NEG) has been electronically filed in your office to aid in the cost of providing unemployment services to the affected Prime Tanning workers. The request is for $528,722 to provide support services to the unemployed workers. NEG funding will be critical to support reemployment efforts, including recruitment, outreach, assessment, job skills transferability analysis, case management, business outreach and job development and placement.
Funding this application will provide the necessary resources for these dedicated, loyal and hard working citizens to obtain the training and support they need to get new jobs during this very challenging time. It is with this in mind that I lend my strong support to this proposal.
I urge your most careful consideration of this application, and ask that you please keep me informed of the review process. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE
United States Senator
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