Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:
Alabama: International Paper continues massive job cuts, this time in Lawrence County where up to 700 people lost their jobs! This on top of hundreds already laid off. The factory wants to shutdown in February, 1100 jobs lost!
Arizona: In Camp Verde, employees of the ALCO store were told they would lose their jobs by April. At least 20 jobs lost in the shutdown. What economic recovery? The company lost $16.6-million USD (net) at the end of the 3rd quarter 2013!
California: Software company Intuit laid off nine people across the state. In Castaic, employees with Ralph’s grocery store notified the store is shutting down in March. In Pittsburg, steel maker USS-POSCO warned of 690 layoffs “…due to economic uncertainty……We have had periodic layoffs for the last several years.” What housing market recovery? Mortgage servicer CoreLogic continues to kill jobs, this time 81 jobs in Simi Valley, as well as 50 jobs in Lancaster. In Corona, legal drugs pusher Actavis laid off 56 employees. In Valentia, Germany based customer/financial service provider Arvato laid off three people. In San Jose, software company Cadence Design laid off 60 employees.
Florida: In Ocala, after 35 years Abio’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria shutdown by the landlord. The greedy property owner said he’s been offered more rent by another business.
The only Middle Eastern restaurant in the Pocatello area shutdown.
Property once owned by NBC affiliate KPVI channel 6 in Pocatello, quietly put up for sale.
Idaho: In Pocatello, the short lived Marhaba restaurant shutdown. The building auctioned off at the end of the month. Property that acted as construction storage for the owners of NBC affiliate KPVI channel 6 was abandoned and put up for sale.
Maine: Amato’s restaurants shutdown in Houlton and Presque Isle: “Its the economy, I am experiencing some health issues, and it is tough to be in two locations at once.”-Micah Desmond, co-owner
Maryland: In Aberdeen, Saks 5th Avenue shutdown, 191 jobs lost!
Michigan: In Bad Axe, Kmart announced it will shutdown in April. 61 jobs lost.
Minnesota: In Fergus Falls, Kmart announced it will shutdown in March. At least 40 jobs lost.
Mississippi: In Gautier, JCPenney called it quits. Their store in the Singing River Mall to close at the end of March.
New Hampshire: Gorham Paper & Tissue killed up to 50 jobs. Company officials blame the cost of gas: “This is a temporary move to get us through the winter, until natural gas prices come back down to their seasonal norms in the spring.”-Mike Cummings, CEO
New York: In Medina, Baxter Healthcare laid off 91 healthcare workers.
Tennessee: In Green Hill, Nero’s Grill shutdown.
01-02 January 2014. More housing market shutdowns!
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013