Grant to Aid Aerospace Workers

Displaced aerospace workers can turn for help in greater numbers than ever to the South Bay Private Industry Council in Inglewood, thanks to a $1.4-million state grant the council has received.

The money will be used over the next 15 months for job retraining, referral and placement, as well as on pre-layoff assessments of workers.

Three area aerospace giants--Northrop Corp., Hughes Aircraft Corp. and TRW Inc.--are expected to lay off at least 3,000 people during that time, according to council spokesman Rodney L. Lister.

The grant money was originally appropriated under the federal Job Training and Partnership Act and is distributed to local councils by California’s Employment Development Department and the office of Gov. Pete Wilson.