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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Medford considers foreclosure action on abandoned properties to fight blight ... Early effects of minimum wage hikes seen in higher restaurant prices ... Police confirm identities of suspect and victim in Highway 99 fatal shooting ... Medford considers foreclosure action on abandoned properties to fight blight ... Early effects of minimum wage hikes seen in higher restaurant prices ... Police confirm identities of suspect and victim in Highway 99 fatal shooting ... NEWBERG Displaced mill workers in Newberg to get federal help Comment By David Bates Yamhill Valley News-Register MailTribune.com By David Bates Yamhill Valley News-Register Posted Mar. 15, 2016 at 5:27 PM By David Bates Yamhill Valley News-Register Posted Mar. 15, 2016 at 5:27 PM » Social News MCMINNVILLE — More than 200 workers who found themselves without jobs after WestRock closed its Newberg paper mill late last year, and launched a joint venture in Mexico with a Mexican paper company, have qualified for benefits through the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The program, administered through the states, provides workers with a variety of services and benefits, including retraining, tax credits and even relocation assistance when employment-related. The program was created in the 1970s to help workers whose jobs were lost as a result of foreign competition. The petition was filed by the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers. It cited "significant global competition from Canada and China, and other foreign manufacturers," as contributing to the plant closure. Qualification is also being sought in McMinnville for 70 workers — represented by United Steelworkers Local 8378 — who were laid off in February by Cascade Steel Rolling Mills. The company cited the flow of cheap steel imports from Third World producers like China and India as the reason. A petition filed by the United Steelworkers alleges, "China has recently flooded the U.S. West Coast metals market. Oregon has seen an impact in many of our metals industries." The union has twice previously filed for relief under the TAA program as well. Applications were approved in 2001 and denied in 2010. In 2002, Congress decided to limit petitions to situations where jobs were lost to competition from Canada or Mexico. However, when the Obama administration reauthorized the program last year, it expanded the reach to cover competition from other quarters as well, and that has produced an array of new petitions. Ricque' Smith of the Oregon Employment Department, who helps oversee the TAA in Oregon, said the ultimate goal is to help displaced workers find new employment as quickly as possible. By David Bates Yamhill Valley News-Register MailTribune.com By David Bates Yamhill Valley News-Register Posted Mar. 15, 2016 at 5:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501