Thursday, April 3, 2014

Obamanomics Year #6: Furniture plant closing, 400 stand to lose jobs

04/03/2014

The Stanley Furniture plant in Robbinsville is shutting down its operations, putting hundreds of workers’ jobs on the line.  

The company says making children's furniture in Graham County is not producing an acceptable level of revenue.   

400 employees are getting 60 days’ notice so they can look for other work. Many hope another buyer takes over the plant and keeps it running.   

"You get used to a certain income.  Then the income is gone.  It's going to be drastic cutbacks," says Tajuana Ledwell.   Her husband has worked at the Stanley plant for 30 years. She says if he loses his salary, it will hurt.    

She knows in the quiet little town...the closing of the county's biggest employer will impact hundreds of families.   

County leaders are reaching out to the state Commerce Department and lawmakers for help, hoping to find a buyer to take over operations  

“That would be the best case scenario,” says Assistant County Manager, Kim Crisp. “They're devastated.  They're very upset...the families are.  But yes, we're very hopeful.”  

Stanley employees are being offered job search assistance. The company will also host onsite job fairs.

source


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