Layoffs: 54 employees to be affected by closure of Wisconsin Central School Bus in Mequon

MEQUON (WITI) -- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says 54 employees will be affected by the closure of Wisconsin Central School Bus in Mequon.

The DWD has received a Wisconsin Business Closing and Mass Layoff (WARN) notice for the business, located at 11127 Industrial Road in Mequon.

Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board staff will coordinate Rapid Response activities.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Dislocated Worker Program provides assistance to workers, companies, and communities affected by mass layoffs or business closings.

Under state law, employers employing 50 or more individuals in the state may be required to give 60 days notice before a mass layoff or closing. Once the state becomes aware of any event affecting 50 or more workers, the Dislocated Worker Program's Rapid Response Team reach out and offer assistance to the affected workers and employer.

DWD Rapid Response staff will:

Affected workers have access to numerous services to help them become re-employed. Basic services, most of which are available to anyone at no charge through the state's Job Centers, include:

More intensive and retraining services can become available for some workers under one or more DWD Workforce development programs. These intensive services can include:

DWD will also look at each dislocation to determine if the workers have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade or competition. If that is the case, workers may be eligible for additional assistance for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Services available under TAA include training, income support while in training, job search allowance and relocation allowance.

Wisconsin spends nearly $40 million annually serving approximately 20,000 dislocated workers in various programs. Wisconsin consistently ranks highly among states in receipt of discretionary federal funding for dislocated workers.