KEMI Donates Support for Laid-Off Mine Workers

Wednesday, August 28, 2019 | 0

Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance Co., the largest workers' compensation insurer in Kentucky, this week announced it had donated $10,000 to assist coal miners laid off after the country's sixth-largest mine declared bankruptcy.

Blackjewel LLC filed for bankruptcy protection in July and laid off more than 1,100 workers in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and other states, leaving many miners without paychecks for weeks.

“We just want to help these miners,” said Brandon Voelker, chairman of KEMI’s board of directors. “KEMI was created to assist Kentucky businesses and their employees, and this is an opportunity for our organization to show them that we care about them, their families and the community.”

The insurer's board of directors authorized the donation to the Harlan County Community Action Agency, a 501(c)(3) charity that provides support for miners and their families, according to a news release from KEMI.