CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today applauded the approval of federal Trade Adjustment Assistance for the 240 employees from New Hampshire and Vermont being laid off from the Ethan Allen Beecher Falls plant later this month.

“Trade Adjustment Assistance will provide critical aid to workers, including access to health insurance and assistance in re-entering the workforce,” Gov. Lynch said. “I will continue to work with the state and federal officials to ensure these workers get the assistance they need in this difficult time.”

Trade Adjustment Assistance helps workers who lose their jobs because of increased imports, or shifts in production to foreign countries. The program provides eligible workers with career counseling, training, income support during training, job search assistance and access to a health coverage tax credit.