VP: Chicago plant stimulus beneficiary

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says a Chicago factory where workers staged a sit-in is an early beneficiary of stimulus legislation.

Biden singles it out in a joint statement with Senator Dick Durbin.

About 200 laid-off workers briefly occupied the Republic Windows & Doors factory in December after Republic gave them just days notice before shutting down.

A green-oriented windows maker, California-based Serious Materials, announced Thursday it's bought Republic's assets and hopes to reopen the plant with the same workers.

Durbin notes there are billions in stimulus funds for weatherization programs that should create demand for Serious Materials products.

Biden says the plant's reopening would show how quickly stimulus money can create jobs.