Former employees of Carwild Corp. in New London have been deemed eligible for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance after the company indicated as many as 15 production workers would be laid off in a move to offshore manufacturing to the Dominican Republic.

Carwild, with its U.S. headquarters at 3 State Pier Road in New London, makes disposable medical devices known as endoscopic sponges. The company's Hydrasorb division, which manufactures hydrophilic urethane foam products, is located in Old Mystic, according to the company website.

Carwild's principals were listed as Joel Wildstein, president, and Rebecca Wildstein, chief financial officer.

Carwild remains in operation at both locations with an unspecified number of employees. A call to its New London headquarters seeking more information did not elicit more details, but documents indicate that workers were laid off starting around Christmas last year and that the last of the jobs would be cut sometime this month.

"Production of endoscopic sticks/rods is being moved to the Dominican Republic," said the state Department of Labor's rapid response coordinator Susan Fracasso in a petition filed last month seeking help for the laid-off workers.

A decision by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration said a significant proportion of the workers were 50 and over, had skills that were not easily transferrable to other industries and that conditions in their field were adverse.

The state Department of Labor said this week it is notifying Carwild employees about how to apply for benefits, which are offered to those who lose their jobs because of foreign competition. Employees who have lost or will lose work after Feb. 5 — but no later than March 2, 2017 — are eligible.

Training, income support and job search help are among the benefits. Wage subsidies are also possible for workers age 50 or above.