Missouri gets last grant installment for laid off autoworkers

The U.S. Labor Department gave Missouri more than $770,000 Tuesday as the final installment of a grant meant to help employees recently laid off by the auto industry, according to a news release. The grant, approved April 2008, amounts to just over $1.73 million.

The grant was designed to help workers affected by cutbacks at Chrysler LLC in Fenton, Integram St. Louis Seating in Pacific and Yushin USA in Kirksville. The latter two make parts for Chrysler models.

The bailed-out automaker closed its minivan plant in Fenton, removed a shift from the separate Fenton truck plant and let go of more than 1,000 employees in 2008, the release states. The U.S. Labor Department originally planned for the grant to help 506 workers, but a change in September expanded that amount to 1,200.

Those who took voluntary buyouts are not eligible for grant money.