For Immediate Release
December 15, 2003
Contact: Douglas Moore
(202) 225-6531
404-433-5561 - cell

Marshall Announces Federal Grant from the Department of Labor to Help Brown and Williamson Workers

(Washington , DC) – Today, Congressman Jim Marshall announced that workers who would be displaced by the possible closing of the Brown and Williamson plant in Macon will receive job training and placement assistance by the Georgia Department of Labor.

“I'm going to continue fighting to stop the closing of the Brown and Williamson plant until every possible option has been exhausted. But, if the plant does close, this grant will offer a lot of workers substantial help in finding a new job,” said Marshall.

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a grant to the Georgia Department of Labor which will initially make $585,905 available to the Georgia Department of Labor, out of a possible $4.2 million.

The funds are provided as a part of the Department of Labor's National Emergency Grant program to support transition assistance for workers who are displaced by plant closings or cutbacks. The program includes assessment, outreach and recruitment, counseling, job search assistance, job development, job placement, basic skills training, basic education, workshops, classroom training, occupational skills training, customized training, on-the-job training and supportive services. The funds, which were requested by Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, will be transferred to the Georgia Department of Labor, which will administer the project's operation.

“I appreciate Commissioner Thurmond's leadership and his efforts to help Middle Georgia's workers in this tough situation. Just as I'm committed to fighting as hard as we can to keep the plant open, I am committed to pushing for the full $4.2 million if the plant does close,” Marshall said.