Grant to help laid off Iowa workers

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — The second half of a U.S. Department of Labor grant to help re-employ Iowa workers affected by layoffs at Electrolux and the John Morrell meatpacking plant has been allocated.

Officials say $1.5 million was disbursed to Iowa Workforce Development on Monday. It includes nearly $816,000 to help workers affected by closure of the Morrell plant in Sioux City, and over $676,000 for Electrolux workers.

In 2008, Electrolux began moving its operations from Jefferson and Webster City to Mexico. In 2009, the company announced that it was moving all manufacturing operations to Mexico and transferring all distribution operations to an existing center in Texas.

More than 700 workers affected by the layoffs will be assisted by the grant money.

The John Morrell plant closed in 2010, eliminating over 1,400 jobs.