Carrier workers to get federal help
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“This will help workers get back on their feet,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) of the initiative. “This will also help local leaders develop new options to attract new business and revenue.”
The rapid response team will include representatives from departments such as treasury, labor, housing and urban development, education, Social Security, commerce and the small business administration.
Frist said the rapid response plan is targeted to address the needs caused by the departure of both Carrier in Warren County, which will cost around 1,300 jobs, and Vought Aircraft Industries in Nashville, which will cost around 1,100 jobs when its moves to Texas. Carrier is scheduled to wind down its business in Warren County in July 2005. Approximately 55 percent of Carrier employees reside in Warren County.
“The next critical step will be working with the state and communities to determine how best to foster economic growth,” said Frist. “Job losses are not specific to one area of Tennessee.”
“Our state is rich with resources, including a strong work ethic, a first-class highway system and a geographically desirable location,” Frist continued. “Pooling the knowledge and the experience of federal and state agencies, as well as local economic leaders, will help us determine how to build upon our strengths. Our goal is to ensure all Tennesseans who want to work can find a job.”
Frist said he hopes the first phase of the response team will be in Warren County by late March. The first phase, Frist said, will be to meet with workers at Carrier. The team will also be armed with information about government programs which may benefit the workers.
“Sometimes workers don’t know how to go about applying for the benefits for which they are eligible,” Frist said. “The team will be briefing them on how to apply for things like health benefits, which are a major concern, and other things like job training and education.”
The second phase, to begin a few weeks later, will be to assist local leaders in setting up plans to attract new business to the area.
According to County Executive Kenneth Rogers, any help the senate majority leader can provide will be greatly appreciated.
“It can’t hurt,” Rogers said, noting he had met with Frist last week. “We’re at our rope’s end and we do need help and I think he’s dedicated to doing what he can.”
Rogers said he is hopeful the combined resources of the federal, state and local governments can accomplish something to ease the impact of Carrier’s departure.
“We may not be able to keep Carrier from leaving, but we need to do all we can for the people out there,” Rogers said.