SENATORS SNOWE & COLLINS APPLAUD DEPT. OF LABOR FOR EFFORTS TO ASSIST MAINE WORKERS

Washington, DC – Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins today applauded the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for its efforts to help dislocated workers and support job growth in Maine. Deputy Secretary of Labor Steven Law is scheduled to visit Maine this afternoon, making public appearances in Portland and Lewiston. Secretary Law is expected to announce a DOL grant to provide assistance to approximately 50 dislocated workers from the former Tartan Textile plant in Portland. He will also toured WahlcoMetroflex in Lewiston, which was the recipient of a DOL grant that helped it hire new workers.

"Maine has suffered devastating losses in the manufacturing industry in recent years, costing too many hardworking workers to lose their jobs. We thank the Department of Labor for recognizing that this funding plays a critical role in helping dislocated workers get on their feet again and in preserving and strengthening Maine's manufacturing industry," said the Senators in a joint statement. "With assistance from the Department of Labor, many dislocated workers are able to access job retraining programs to find new jobs and social support services to help them through a difficult time. DOL grants are also critical to help Maine manufacturing companies expand and hire new workers, many of them who are highly skilled workers who were laid off when other businesses shut down."

During Secretary Law's visit, he will also promoted the President's High Job Growth Initiative, which helps to educate and train workers in skills that will allow them to compete in new or expanding industries.

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Secretary Law's scheduled visits in Maine, for Wednesday, October 6th: 1:00pm at the Portland Career Center, 185 Lancaster Street, Portland 2:00pm at WahlcoMetroflex, Lexington Avenue, Lewiston