CONGRESSMAN LATHAM REQUESTS FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR STORY CITY PELLA PLANT EMPLOYEES

 REQUESTS A NUMBER OF dislocated worker services to help transition affected workforce to re-employment

WASHINGTON, DC – Iowa Congressman Tom Latham is wasting no time in calling for the U.S. Department of Labor to begin providing assistance to the approximately 284 full and seasonal employees who will be affected by the Pella Corporation termination of plant operations in March at its Story City, Iowa manufacturing facility.

In a letter sent by Latham today to the U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, he calls on the Secretary to provide dislocated worker services, such as National Emergency Grants, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and Rapid Response Services, “to assist the area’s workforce to obtain the necessary training and skills needed to transition to re-employment”.

Pella announced late Wednesday that they would be terminating operations at the Story City facility due to a declining national demand for residential building supplies.

Latham noted that his Congressional office is available to assist affected employees and their families with questions regarding the federal dislocated worker services and unemployment benefits.  The Story County based office is located at 1421 South Bell Avenue - Suite #108A in Ames.  The telephone number for the office is: 515-232-2885.

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Text of Congressman Latham’s letter to Secretary Chao: (CLICK HERE FOR A PDF FILE OF THE ACTUAL LETTER)

January 10, 2008

The Honorable Elaine Chao
Secretary
United States Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue
Room S-2018
Washington, D.C. 20210

Dear Madame Secretary:

I write today to express my sincere concern with the recent announcement that Pella Corporation intends to terminate operations at its Story City, Iowa manufacturing facility in March of this year.  The closure will lay off 244 full time employees and 40 “flex” or seasonal workers.

Pella is one of Story City’s largest employers. Pella established its Story City operations in 1997, the facility manufactures Pella’s premium quality window and door products.  Headquartered in Pella, Iowa, the Pella Corporation also has facilities located in Carroll, Shenandoah and Sioux Center, Iowa, in addition to other facilities located throughout the United States. 

This unfortunate announcement of layoffs will have a significant adverse impact on the workforce and economies of Story City, Story County and the surrounding area. Accordingly, I strongly urge you to provide dislocated worker services, such as National Emergency Grants, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and Rapid Response Services, to assist the area’s workforce to obtain the necessary training and skills needed to transition to re-employment.  The need for this assistance couldn’t be clearer given the economic decline North Central Iowa will endure as a result of the layoffs from the Pella manufacturing plant in Story City.

I appreciate your prompt consideration of this request and look forward to your response. I offer my full support, as well as that of my staff, in helping the Department meet this appeal for assistance.  Please contact me if you have any further questions. 

Sincerely,
Tom Latham
Member of Congress