BUSINESS BRIEFS
Laid-off workers eligible for aid
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Hundreds of workers who lost their jobs when Del Monte Fresh Produce abruptly ended its operations in the state have qualified for federal assistance under two programs, Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka announced yesterday.
Income allowances are available for some workers who are participating in full-time training. In addition, wage subsidies are available for eligible workers age 50 or older who find new employment at a lower salary.
CHEVRON STATION CLOSING SUNDAY
Roger's Chevron station near St. Louis Heights is scheduled to close Sunday. Whether the station will reopen has not been decided yet, said Chevron Corp. spokesman Albert Chee.
The station at 3048 Wai'alae Ave. is operated by Roger Zulueta, who has decided not to continue to lease the station from Chevron, Chee said.
"We're trying to find a replacement," Chee said.
HAWTEL OWNER MAY BUY GE UNIT
Carlyle Group, the owner of Hawaiian Telcom, may pursue the purchase of General Electric Co.'s plastics unit, David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Washington-based private-equity firm, said yesterday.
The company is seeking offers of as much as $10 billion for the plastics unit, people with direct knowledge of the auction said on Jan. 9. Buyout firms may be among the bidders, the people said.
GE Plastics is "a great company and we certainly would be interested in it if we could have a chance to buy it," Rubenstein, 57, told CNBC television.
