The largest polysilicon supplier in the United States will lay off 400 people in Tennessee and Michigan. Polysilicon is used in solar power projects. Hemlock Semiconductor blamed too much polysilicon on the market and that “The unresolved trade disputes among the U.S., China and Europe are a major factor.”
United Airlines announced layoffs for 472 employees in Newark, New Jersey. It’s an attempt to cut costs since their merger with Continental.
C.J. Banks women’s clothing store closed in Victor, New York.
Also in New York, Rowe Photo, Video and Audio’s Greece store is closing after 114 years in business. The owner blames the bad economy, which is forcing him to consolidate his various stores.
Book Ends Gently Used & Collectible Books to close on 31 January. The owner of the Kearney, Nebraska, store blamed digital media.
Miller Floral in Terre Haute, Indiana, will close at the end of January, after 101 years in business. The owner, and grandson of the store’s founder, said they’ve seen a 50% drop in business since 2007.
Also in Indiana, Chromcraft Revington is closing its distribution center in Delphi. 16 jobs lost. Work is being moved to Mississippi.
After 25 years a media outlet for aspiring young journalists in California, is going out of business. The publisher of L.A. Youth said: “Tough economic times, foundation cuts and moving our office by March 1, 2013, have overburdened our budget and placed an undue amount of financial strain on the L.A. Youth family. While we celebrate our 25th anniversary this month we are regrettably closing the doors on this extraordinary organization at the end of February. This is our last edition of L.A. Youth.”
Beautopia supply store closing in Mountain View, California.
The Franz Bakery outlet in Tillamook, Oregon, will close on 09 February. Corporate officials blamed the bad economy: “They said sales were down and the store wasn’t making money.”-Terri Ann Staver, store manager
The Mez and EpiCentre Theaters will close in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s over legal wrangling involving the new property owners.
U.S. Postal Service announced the closing of the Manasota Processing & Distribution Center, in Florida. More than 300 jobs lost. The thing is, back in October 2011 Postal officials announced they were not going to close the center, after they had conducted a feasibility study: “This was a careful review. We have determined that there will be no significant changes made….”-David Patterson, USPS District Manager
The 85 year old H.L. Keay & Son general store, in Albion, Maine, will close. The family owners said the economy is just too bad to continue: “We just decided we’d had enough of running it and wanted to get done. Business weren’t that good.”-Kevin Keay, store manager
School officials in Bristol, Virginia, said it looks like they have to shut down some schools. Problems involve outdated school buildings (some built in 1938) to constant redistricting which leaves some schools with too few students and others overcrowded. As Superintendent Mark Lineburg said “…we have some issues.”