Federal Grant To Help Workers Impacted By Layoffs

A federal grant will be used to help some laid off workers get back on their feet.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Monday that a $784,648 National Dislocated Worker Grant will be used to help individuals impacted by layoffs at High Liner Foods and Symmetry Medical.

James Oliveira, Executive Director of the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, told WBSM News that some workers, particularly at High Liner Foods, will be given English language instruction to help them become more marketable to potential employers.

"Once we can get them to get into some strong conversational English, we'll move them into training programs where there are career paths available to them other than just working down on the docks," said Oliveira.

There will also be training provided to Symmetry Medical workers which will focus on Computer Numerical Control router training to help them find new manufacturing jobs.

"Alot of the machinists there have been Set Up Machinists, what we want to offer them is some advance manufacturing training techniques that would move them into CNC training opportunities and provide them with an opportunity to work for other employers," said Oliveira.

The board will be partnering with the Greater New Bedford Career Center to reach out to employees who may have been impacted by the layoffs.

"It takes a little bit of time to get back to the folks who are currently collecting unemployment, others who may have accepted another job but are underemployed and connecting with them through the career center," said Oliveira.

The Board had earlier received a $180,000 Rapid Response Grant from the state, but Oliveira says that they knew more assistance would be needed which is why they applied for the larger federal grant.