Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
California: In Santa Clara, data storage device maker Violin Memory said it must “restructure” which means killing 100 jobs! In Fresno, GAF continues to kill jobs, this time 31 employees let go. In Long Beach, Nordstroms Rack killed 43 jobs.
Colorado: Banner Health shutdown its bariatric clinic at the North Colorado Medical Center. 850 patients adversely affected! Company officials said the new realities of healthcare mean that bariatric services are no longer profitable.
Connecticut: Webster Bank shutting down offices in Enfield and Rocky Hill, by May.
Georgia: In Doraville, Georgia Pacific shutting down their cardboard box factory in April. 90 jobs lost.
Idaho: In Meridian, Utah based First National Bank of Layton killed 56 jobs.
Warren Buffet owned Heinz Frozen Food made it official and notified Idaho that it will shutter its Pokey plant, killing at least 400 jobs!
Kentucky: Booth Energy laid off 30 miners due to crashing demand for coal.
Massachusetts: In Malden, Too Big to Jail Bank of America laid off 59 employees.
Missouri: What housing market recovery? In Saint Louis, Nationstar Mortgage killing 115 jobs by April! Company officials blame it on a decline in demand for mortgage services.
New Jersey: What housing market recovery? Mortgage company PHH Corporation killed 130 jobs at their Mount Laurel HQ! This is on top of hundreds of jobs killed in other states, and hundreds of job cuts made in 2013. Company officials cited Mortgage Bankers of America data which warns of an impending housing market crash!
New York: NYC based national law firm Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman laid off 30 people. In Long Island, after only three years the Malu homemade ice cream shop shutdown. No reason given. In Amsterdam, Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors shutting down by May, 116 jobs lost!
North Carolina: The Department of Health and Human Services shutting down three Children’s Developmental Services Agency operations by July, 170 jobs lost! Officials blame reduced government funding (Obama Care) and will contract out many healthcare jobs.
Oklahoma: In Chickasaw, after 11 years Aunt Jean’s Attic shutdown. The owner is dealing with health problems.
Oregon: After 77 years, charter bus service RAZ Transportation shutdown. 60 jobs lost. The company shutdown without warning. Company officials admit the bus service has been in trouble since last year due to the loss of a major contract, and should have shutdown then. In Klamath Falls, Kmart announced they will close in June, 64 jobs lost.
Pennsylvania: West York Area School District killed 29 jobs, on top of the 40 positions eliminated through attrition. Taxpayers question the job cuts because the school district is spending money on building renovations.
Texas: In Houston, airline toilet and water service contractor AccuFleet International killing 70 jobs, due to losing its contract with United Continental.
Vermont: What automotive industry recovery? Plasan Carbon Composites shutting down their Bennington operations by May, and consolidating to Michigan. 143 jobs lost! The company makes carbon parts for the Dodge Viper and Chevy Corvette. However, company officials say they might figure out a way to use the factory to make armor plate made from carbon.
Virginia: In Leesburg, another Ben Franklin’s store shutdown. This one had been in operation for 40 years. After 32 years Hallmark’s Treasure House store shutdown.
19 February 2014: Massive restaurant 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