Citing an unprecedent rise in global energy costs, Century Aluminum Co. – the nation’s largest producer of primary aluminum – announced plans in June 2022 to curtail operations and begin the idling process at its Hawesville, Kentucky, smelter until energy prices return to more normalized levels. By August, all operations had ceased at the aluminum smelter with layoffs affecting more than 600 workers.

To address the economic hardship caused by the temporary closure, the U. S. Department of Labor today announces the award of a $1,798,844 National Dislocated Worker Grant to Green River Area Development District to provide employment and workforce training services for dislocated workers in Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster counties.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this award will allow the district to provide retraining and skills development for affected workers in the seven counties the regional planning agency serves.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide assistance to a state or local board to fund direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event.

Original source can be found here.