Shaw Industries is closing its Central manufacturing plant and 249 positions will be affected with the closure, according to a state layoff notification by SC Works.
The company manufactures carpeting, laminate, hardwood and other flooring materials. It operates around 40 plants, primarily in Dalton, Georgia.
The closure of the Pickens County facility started April 26 and is expected to be completed by the end of June, according to a company statement.
Workers were told in person on April 24 and 25, according to the company.
The company said employees would be able to apply for jobs at other Shaw sites and the company is also partnering with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce's Rapid Response team to organize career fairs with other local employers.
Several job fairs are being organized or have already been scheduled.
In 2015 Shaw operated seven plants in South Carolina, according to a company statement at the time. Shaw has four manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, in Columbia and Aiken, and employs 1,200 people in the state. The Central manufacturing facility began operation in 1971 as American Enka and was acquired by Shaw in 2005, according to Shaw.
In a statement, the company talked about the reason for the closure, "By leveraging its investments in newer and advanced technology, this consolidation allows Shaw to more fully utilize newer facilities with a broader range of capabilities while meeting ever-changing customer demands."
The future of the manufacturing plant itself is uncertain and Mark Hartline, senior director of human resources at Shaw Industries said in a statement that the company would welcome any discussion with interested buyers.
Roy Costner III, Pickens County Council chairman, said the employees at Shaw have a reputation for being hardworking, loyal and talented.
He said any manufacturer needing a plug-and-play workforce could hire a handful or up to hundreds of Shaw employees and the company would be ready to make things almost instantly.
The county is putting a high priority on helping to find jobs for the displaced workers, partnering with the state job fairs and planning additional ones, Costner said.
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A request for comment from SC Works, which maintains the state layoff notifications and can help with displaced workers, was not successful.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2019/05/01/dalton-georgia-shaw-industries-plant-closes-sc-leads-layoffs-249-pickens-county/3638763002/
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