State Response To K Mart Closures

Jan. 16, 2003
No. 02-77

In response to the announced closing of five K Mart stores in Alaska communities, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is taking steps to provide support to K Mart workers who may be facing possible layoffs.

"We have a 'Rapid Response' team standing by which includes department personnel well versed in what dedicated resources are available to impacted workers," said Commissioner Greg O'Claray of the Department of Labor. "The department can provide a wide range of professional and financial assistance to the affected workers which are specific to their needs. Once the Bankruptcy Court in Chicago has ruled on the proposed closures or the company either requests our assistance or provides official notification of the closures, we will mobilize the response team for quick onsite action."

O'Claray further stated, "We have Job Centers in all of the impacted communities that offer an extensive list of employment services to Alaskans. I encourage the individuals who will be affected by the closures to take immediate advantage of the assistance our Job Centers can provide."

The impacted communities are Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau where K Mart operates four "Super K's," and the "Big K" in Kenai. Approximately 932 positions will be impacted by the closures. In 2001 K Mart was ranked as Alaska's 17th largest employer with an average monthly employment of 856 people.

A list of Job Centers and contact information is available on the department's website at

https://jobs.alaska.gov/offices/

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