HOULTON – Houlton International Corp. workers who were laid off as of December 2002 with the closing of the company’s plant are eligible to apply for benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.

The closure affected about 50 employees of the company, which made hardwood furniture components.

The availability of the TAA benefits was announced Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the program.

Snowe originally had been in contact with Labor Secretary Elaine Chao in November 2002, urging her to approve the TAA petition for Houlton International.

That petition was denied by the Employment and Training Administration in January. However, with resubmission and Snowe’s support, the petition has been approved.

Houlton International workers will be able to get federal job training assistance. Workers laid off on or after Feb. 24, 2002, will be eligible to apply for benefits until June 27, 2005.