The West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board is assisting workers laid off in the idling of the Verso paper mill in Ballard County.
The mill employed more than 400 workers when it announced its closure in August, less than a year after being bought by paper company Verso.
300 workers lost their jobs in November in the first wave of lay offs.
A report from the University of Kentucky’s Forestry Extension Office estimates the closure will result in a $300 million loss to the local economy and about $400 million to the state.
WK WIB rapid response program coordinator Juliet Allen says a rapid response is often the biggest factor in employment remediation.
"One of the main difficulties that workers face is trying to find that next job as quickly as possible, because they want to support their families in the way that they always have," said Allen. "So we begin working with them as quickly as we can."
Allen says the board will meet with workers at the Verso facility Monday at 1pm.
"A group of the partners will explain in a short 30-40 minute session all the different services available, the best way is to search for new jobs, reemployment options, we'll discuss unemployment insurance, possible training and benefits available out there for them," said Allen.
The remaining 125 workers will be laid off between now and when the mill fully shutters July 1st.
