Job Training Money for Plum Creek, Smurfit Workers

HELENA – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1.8 million grant to offering job training and other assistance to about 450 workers laid off by wood products companies in western Montana.

The Department of Labor and Industry will administer the program to help workers laid off by Plum Creek Timber Co. between Jan. 8 and June 25, 2009 and by Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., earlier this year.

The grant will be distributed among communities in Lincoln, Flathead, Sanders, Lake, Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties.

Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester say local employment bureaus will work with participants to provide services including short-term training and education and employment plan development.

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