(SIOUX CITY, IA) In six weeks 1,400 John Morrell employees will be laid off when the meat processing plant close its doors. Iowa Workforce Development is now getting its Rapid Response Program up and running. Morrell management met with Job Training Partners, Iowa Workforce Development leaders, UFCW representatives, and community officials on Wednesday. These key players will meet again very soon before scheduling employee meetings. 
         
"Currently Iowa Workforce Development has awarded a $30,000 Early Intervention Grant and that will get some services started immediately for individuals while they're going through this process leading up to the layoffs," says Kerry Koonce, Iowa Workforce Development.

"Through those employee meetings we will get information that will allow us then to turn around and get additional resources for the staff-assisted services, the training, the job-seeking skills," says Dr. Julie Stoik, WIT Job Training Partners.


That means applying for a $2.1-million to $3.5-million National Emergency Grant, depending on need, from the Department of Labor to pay for retraining and employment services. Iowa Workforce Development hopes those funds will be available before the April 20th layoffs.

Reported by Erika Thomas. You can contact her at ethomas@kmeg.com.

Friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ErikaThomasTV.