06/04/2009

Associated Press

Oregon has been awarded almost $600,000 in economic recovery money to help workers who lost their jobs when Boise Cascade closed a plant in Columbia County.

Boise Cascade announced last September it was permanently closing its veneer mill in St. Helens because of declining demand. The closure resulted in the layoff of 36 hourly workers and management staff.

Senator Jeff Merkley said Wednesday the money will help workers retrain to find new jobs.