ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 26, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley released the following statement on the manufacturing restructuring plan announced by BP Solar today:
“Yesterday I, along with members of my staff and the Department of Business and Economic Development, was briefed on BP Solar’s restructuring plan. The closure of BP’s manufacturing arm in Frederick, MD will impact hundreds of workers and their families, and I have directed rapid response teams at DBED and DLLR to immediately begin reaching out to impacted workers and their families. These state agencies will work closely with local officials and representatives from BP Solar to make sure impacted workers have access to all available resources, unemployment insurance, and job training.”
“While Maryland’s unemployment rate remains below the national average, today’s announcement is a reminder for all of us that families in our state are not immune from the global economic downturn. At the state level, we are doing all that we can to create the conditions for further economic growth for our State, including emergency legislation that I signed yesterday to create jobs and strengthen Maryland’s unemployment trust fund.”
Background on Available Services:
The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, in partnership with the Department of Business and Economic Development, local Workforce Investment Boards from across the State, and local/county unemployment insurance offices, stand ready to assist the individuals impacted by the layoffs announced today by BP Solar.
With the cooperation of BP Solar officials, the response team will be offering rapid response activities at the Holiday Inn in Frederick, 5400 Holiday Drive, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the following dates:
March 30, 2010;
April 1, 2010;
April 6, 2010;
April 8, 2010;
April 13, 2010; and
April 15, 2010.
The response team will assist impacted workers by helping them apply for unemployment insurance, helping them with COBRA applications, assisting them with job placement and job searches, resume and cover letter writing, and by identifying local social service programs that may benefit these employees in their time of need.
Individuals from this layoff may be potentially eligible for Trade Act Assistance. If approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, these individuals could also receive additional UI benefits, training benefits, as well as other benefits as described in the Trade Act.
Editors Note: Governor O'Malley follows Salisbury News.
Yah,
ReplyDeleteGreen jobs.
Another casualty of Obama.
Wake up people!
You've elected a traitor to this country!
Solar power is NOT viable. Solar power will never be a real alternative energy source.
ReplyDeleteBP is cutting costs because of mandatory health care.
Thanks Obama and Dumbocrats!
This is odd! Just recently I heard several radio commercials about how Maryland is great place for a business. I knew the ad was BS the moment I heard it and this proves it.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet if we still had Van jones as a green jobs czar this would have never happend
ReplyDeleteThis is not good.
ReplyDeleteThis is really bad because the Obama administration has stated 'for the record' time and time again about our so called 'new economy' as being ambitious in that employment would come from within the so called 'Green sectors'.
This is a 'black eye' as BP Solars corporate headquarters is located not very far from the White House steps.
This is really distressful.
BP announced this pending layoff a full year ago. See:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bp-solar-is-laying-off-620-outsourcing-panel-manufacturing-5981/
It's taken O'Malley this long (1 year) to dispatch a team to teach their workers how to write a resume???? This is a really swell jobs program. I think instead that O'Malley is reacting to the former Governor's announcement that he will be challenging Martin in November. If people were really alert as to what's going on in Government under the current administration, no campaign donations would be needed.
"Maryland's unemployment rate remains below the national average" because there are so stinkin' many federal and state employees!
ReplyDeleteNote that the private businesses in the state are moving elsewhere (call it 'consolidation' if it makes you feel better) because of the hostile business environment in this state.
The exodus will continue as long as the state continues to punish entrepreneurs by picking their pockets and burying them under mountains of regulation and paperwork.
Government doesn't create jobs-- the private sector does.
There's where the Hopey-Changey thing is most needed.