By Frank Lewis
Job training opportunities are being made available for potentially impacted workers at the American Centrifuge Project in Piketon and cleanup activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon.
Given the uncertainty of U.S. Department of Energy operations at Piketon Governor John R. Kasich says he has directed state agencies to put in motion efforts to assist potentially impacted workers. Kasich is also working with members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation from the region to see what can be done to address what Kasich referred to as “the Obama Administration’s disappointing decision.”
“Ohioans working on these federal projects in southern Ohio must feel as if the rug has been pulled out beneath their feet by the Obama Administration’s failure to keep their promises to help make loan guarantees available and ensure the future prosperity of this community,” Kasich said. “We share their disbelief and are sympathetic to those who might be displaced by the Obama Administration’s short-sighted and misguided decision to move centrifuge research to Tennessee and we are standing by ready to assist any impacted workers. We also stand ready to assist those workers that may be impacted as Department of Energy considers further funding cuts that would slow needed cleanup efforts at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.”
Kasich said Ohio officials have continued regular contact with local workforce teams to ensure they have the resources they need to help any impacted workers and have another visit scheduled to Piketon next week.
A special transition center has already been set up at the OhioMeansJobs Pike County Center that offers customized support to help potentially impacted workers. Kasich said at the center, impacted workers are able to receive job readiness services, including job search assistance, resume writing and interviewing help, and information on job training opportunities, as well as learn about other resources, including unemployment compensation benefits.
The OhioMeansJobs Pike County Center is located at 941 Market Street in Piketon and can be reached at 740-289-2371.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
