January 29th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

 U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone told Western Marylander’s attending the PACE Reception in Annapolis last week what while there is a great deal of good news to report for the region- last year’s decision by the Verso Corporation to close the Luke Mill was devastating.  Trone and Cardin were among the featured speakers at the Friday breakfast event at the Graduate Annapolis hotel. The paper mill was closed on June 30, 2019 by its owner the Verso Corp. impacting 675 employees.  Cardin, who praised the efforts of local government and Allegany College of Maryland in helping former mill employees return to school to take industrial maintenance coursework, did not hold back in his criticisms of Verso. He blasted the company for the manner in which it closed the mill with virtually no notice given to what he called a dedicated and excellent workforce…

 

Trone pointed to efforts to make sure Trade Adjustment Assistance was available to workers.  The TAA program allowed the former mill workers to continue their unemployment benefits for up to 180 weeks while they take the course work. Their tuition is also covered by federal assistance.