Loras College in Dubuque is offering a special deal to workers at Farmland Foods who’ll lose their jobs in June. The meat processing plant is expected to close as a result of its sale to Smithfield Foods. Loras Continuing Education Director Linda Crossett says Loras will pay for half of the tuition for each of the 11-hundred Farmland employees.The college hopes the out-of-work employees can use the offer to upgrade their skills to land new jobs. Crossett says former Farmland employees could save several hundred dollars if they take up the offer.Crossett says Farmland employees who are accepted into the college will also be eligible for additional “need-based” aid.