Sixty employees of Fru-Con Construction Corp. working on assembly lines at Procter & Gamble Co. will be laid off.

The company lost a contract with P&G to Manpower Temporary Services through a bidding process.

Fru-Con employees learned of the layoff Aug. 4. It takes effect Aug. 31.

After the company learned that the contract had been awarded to Manpower, Fru-Con officials contacted the Private Industry Council to get help for employees.

Rod Nobis, Fru-Con Construction Corp. site manager, said: "We knew we lost the contract and we wanted to try to find our employees other work. They have been good, loyal employees who were laid off through no fault of their own."

Wednesday a rapid response team from Missouri's Department of Economic Development was in Cape Girardeau to help workers affected by the layoff.

Ken Boyer at the Southeast Missouri Private Industry Council explained that whenever a layoff of 50 or more employees takes place the state activates its rapid response team.

"These workers have a lot of talent," Boyer said. "They have a good work history. They know how to work within a team and have a lot of assets for a new employer."

Employees had a chance to talk about career opportunities, vocational school, community college or university tuition assistance and on-the-job training money.

In addition, stress counseling and consumer credit counseling are available.

"Anytime there's a layoff it's significant," Boyer said. "But 60 employees is pretty significant."

A second meeting will be held Friday at 9 a.m. for employees who were unable to attend Wednesday's meeting. The meetings are held at the Private Industry Council, 760 S. Kingshighway.

The employees worked in the technical services organization of Fru-Con. The company held the contract for eight years. Workers were product line inspectors at P&G.

Nobis explained that Fru-Con provides services to other companies including construction, engineering and technical support. The company employs about 400.

P&G and Manpower officials could not be reached to comment.