U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota assured displaced Verso workers that they will be eligible for at least a near year’s-worth of unemployment benefits.
Klobuchar, along with Gov. Mark Dayton, paid another visit to Sartell Aug. 3, the day after it was announced Verso would close its doors in Sartell. They held a press conference at Sartell City Hall, attended by other officials, including Sartell Mayor Joe Perske, Rep. Tim O’Driscoll, Sen. Michelle Fischbach, Rep. Steve Gottwalt, Verso plant manager Lyle Fleck, union representatives and others.
Dayton and many of those others have been meeting during the last couple of months, at first in an effort to try to save Verso, and now in an effort to help the unemployed. Dayton also visited Sartell May 29, the day after the Verso explosion and fire.
All of them said they wanted to assure Sartell they will do everything in their power, working together, to help unemployed Verso workers gain employment and/or training in the coming weeks and months. They also pledged to try to help recruit a business or industry that could fit in nicely where the Verso plant is now.