Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that Oregon has been awarded $461,000 in economic recovery funds to help retrain 65 workers who lost their jobs following closure of a Weyerhaeuser Company lumber mill in Dallas, Oregon.
“These skilled, productive workers lost their jobs due to market conditions and not through any fault of their own,” Wyden said. “Investing in retraining is an important step in getting them back to work and that’s what the Administration is striving to do by awarding this money.”
“A well trained workforce is essential for building vibrant local and national economies,” Merkley said. “I am pleased that this assistance is available to help workers retrain and prepare to find jobs in our changing economy. With the right training and opportunity, they will be able to build a brighter future for their families and communities.”
Weyerhaeuser announced in March that it would close lumber mills in Dallas and Wright City, OK. The announcement affected 307 employees. The company said the layoffs were the result of low market demand.
The National Emergency Grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor and is being financed with money from the economic stimulus package, also known as American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The money was awarded to the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. The geographic area covered by the award includes Polk County.
English 
Spanish