Ohio media reporting 100 people will be out-o-work when Superior Fibers moves operations to Mexico. The company specializes in air filters for HVAC, and fiber glass reinforcements. Company officials blame their move to Mexico on increased competition, and the high cost of ongoing environmental clean up operations at their Bremen, Ohio, factory.
An Alton, Illinois, insurance company, Millers First, laid off 12 people. Company officials blame drastically low interests rates which have severely affected the company’s investments, and they credit more automation which replaces people.
A ‘collectibles’ store in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, closing down. The owner of Tilburys Knob says business would be better if there were more variety of stores in the area: “Business is pretty good, but it could be better. I felt there should have been more shops down here. There would be more shoppers if there was more opportunity to buy things. There have been a lot of nice people and good customers, but not enough.”-Stan Nowak
Rhodes Bake-N-Serv is closing its Caldwell, Idaho, bread factory and moving it to Wisconsin. Production will end in April, leaving 49 Idahoans out-o-work. The Caldwell factory has been in operation since 1962.
In Santa Cruz, California, headset maker, Plantronics, is laying off 41 people, and moving some production to its Mexico factory.
American Esoteric Laboratories laying off 65 people in Memphis, Tennessee. The company provides doctors and hospitals with lab services. Company officials said the layoffs are the result of a drastic change in how payments for lab services are being reimbursed.
The 100 years old Denis Sport Shop in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, announced it is closing. Company owners blame climate change, the bad economy and local road construction which cut off the store from customers.
Another irony, the Waccamaw Economic Oppurtunity Council laid off eight employees, and cut social help programs. This affects Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties in South Carolina. Council officials blame big cuts in the federal government funding. The biggest programs they offer involve helping people pay utilities and rent. In Georgetown County alone, they’re currently helping 100 people. They expect double that in Horry County, but will be hard pressed to help due to the funding cuts.
The Aubuchon Hardware in Bangor, Maine, closed without much warning. Faithful customers were still showing up after everything was shuttered up. Employees were inside moving inventory. The hardware store had been in business since 1969. The manager said he couldn’t compete against the big box national hardware chains, and the only reason he stayed open this long is because the landlord gave him a break on the rent: “It’s been something we’ve been thinking about for a year and a half. In fact, we got a reprieve a little over a year ago when the owners of the building decreased the rent to allow us to stay here.”-Fred Stewart