The U.S. Department of Labor announced yesterday that workers who were contracted to work at Maytag Corp.’s washer and dryer factory in Newton can apply for federal aid, the Associated Press reported. Whirlpool Corp. purchased Maytag last year and announced that it would move production to its Ohio plants, causing about 1,800 layoffs.

Workers of nine companies contracted by Maytag are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance funds, which help dislocated workers find new jobs. The companies are Henkel Corp., Ranstad Corp., Ryerson Steel, Chem-Tool, Barnes Electric, Mid-Iowa Tools, Kimco Janitorial, Johnson Controls and Baker Electric.