RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. -- They gathered here in a high school gymnasium amid unpleasant circumstances Friday afternoon.

Gov. Joe Manchin stood at half-court, microphone in hand, trying to offer hope.

In the bleachers were 350 of the Century Aluminum workers who lost their jobs this week, futures uncertain, worries growing.

"We've been hit with a blow right now," Manchin told them. "But we can come back. We truly can."

Manchin brought his "rapid response" job-loss team to Ravenswood Friday to do "everything humanly possible" for the 650 laid-off Ravenswood workers, victims of slumping aluminum prices, high energy costs and global economy that makes it ever more difficult for places like Ravenswood to compete.

"You have to have faith, but how can you have it when you're about to lose everything you have?" said Jessica Stewart, whose husband Rocky worked the past 11 years on one of the aluminum plant's potlines. "Things you worked your whole life for are now slipping through your fingers."

Century workers peppered Manchin and state and federal officials with questions during the 90-minute meeting at Ravenswood High School.

They wanted to know about unemployment benefits, retraining opportunities, health insurance. They asked whether there was any hope the plant would reopen if aluminum prices rebounded.

It would cost $50 million to $60 million to start up the plant again, Manchin said.

In the meantime, the state plans to market the facility in hopes of attracting another manufacturer.

"Think of it this way," Manchin said, speaking to the rows and rows of displaced workers and their families. "We have 600-plus skilled workers. The best workers in the world right now."

Even so, Manchin acknowledged these are challenging times for West Virginia, and for the rest of the country.

"The world's changing," he said. "It's not just Ohio and Kentucky anymore. We're competing against China, India, Vietnam."

Manchin said he met Thursday with executives from Rio Tinto Alcan, which operates an aluminum rolling plant beside Century Aluminum in Ravenswood.

Alcan has more than 1,000 workers - Jackson County's largest employer. Everyone worries Century's shutdown will prompt layoffs there.

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. -- They gathered here in a high school gymnasium amid unpleasant circumstances Friday afternoon.

Gov. Joe Manchin stood at half-court, microphone in hand, trying to offer hope.

In the bleachers were 350 of the Century Aluminum workers who lost their jobs this week, futures uncertain, worries growing.

"We've been hit with a blow right now," Manchin told them. "But we can come back. We truly can."

Manchin brought his "rapid response" job-loss team to Ravenswood Friday to do "everything humanly possible" for the 650 laid-off Ravenswood workers, victims of slumping aluminum prices, high energy costs and global economy that makes it ever more difficult for places like Ravenswood to compete.

"You have to have faith, but how can you have it when you're about to lose everything you have?" said Jessica Stewart, whose husband Rocky worked the past 11 years on one of the aluminum plant's potlines. "Things you worked your whole life for are now slipping through your fingers."

Century workers peppered Manchin and state and federal officials with questions during the 90-minute meeting at Ravenswood High School.

They wanted to know about unemployment benefits, retraining opportunities, health insurance. They asked whether there was any hope the plant would reopen if aluminum prices rebounded.

It would cost $50 million to $60 million to start up the plant again, Manchin said.

In the meantime, the state plans to market the facility in hopes of attracting another manufacturer.

"Think of it this way," Manchin said, speaking to the rows and rows of displaced workers and their families. "We have 600-plus skilled workers. The best workers in the world right now."

Even so, Manchin acknowledged these are challenging times for West Virginia, and for the rest of the country.

"The world's changing," he said. "It's not just Ohio and Kentucky anymore. We're competing against China, India, Vietnam."

Manchin said he met Thursday with executives from Rio Tinto Alcan, which operates an aluminum rolling plant beside Century Aluminum in Ravenswood.

Alcan has more than 1,000 workers - Jackson County's largest employer. Everyone worries Century's shutdown will prompt layoffs there.

Alcan executives flew in from France this week to meet with the governor.

"They have challenges," said Manchin, who was wearing running shoes Friday after breaking his toe earlier this week. "We're committed to doing everything we possibly can."

State officials made the same promise when Century announced last December that it would close the plant unless aluminum prices climbed and energy costs declined. Neither happened.

"The market deteriorated so quickly," Manchin told Century workers. "There was no way to stop what was going on. We were caught in a worldwide market downturn."

Century workers said they have more to worry about these days than not having a job. Some said they're getting calls from bank mortgage agents asking whether they'll be able to meet their house payments.

Manchin told the workers to give him the names of the bankers, and he'll call them.

"We're all in this together," the governor said. "We didn't come here to give you lip service. We're here to fix things."

Some workers shrugged as they left the gymnasium Friday.

"I didn't learn much," said Tim Caldwell, a plant worker who lives across the Ohio River in Middleport, Ohio. "Nobody knows what will happen next. We'll wait and see what they offer to help."

Century workers have been invited to meet individually Thursday and Friday with state Workforce West Virginia representatives who will help them file unemployment claims. The meeting will be at McCoy's Inn and Conference Center in Ripley.

Lewis Settlage, who worked 18 years at the plant, plans to attend.

"There's still work out there," Settlage said. "It's just a matter of what you're willing to accept. I'm ready to move to Kentucky after my daughter graduates from high school if the plant doesn't come back."

Century's official shutdown will be Feb. 20, leaving 650 people out of work.

"We're still in control of our destiny," Manchin told the workers shortly before they filed out of the gym. "If you walk out of here thinking you're finished, then you're finished. But if you walk out of here thinking you have an opportunity, then we'll find one for you."

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or

304-348-4869.