A man and wife who both work at the same manufacturing plant will lose their jobs in late December when the plant closes. And even though a host of local and regional agencies are lining up to provide job training, resume preparation, and other skills needed in today’s workplace, the pair don’t have the luxury of time — they have to find a job immediately.

“They are desperate,” said Susan Fouts, who works with the Southwestern Development Commission. “They don’t have time for training or education. They have to go to work.”

Fouts was speaking this week at a meeting hosted by the Haywood County Economic Development Commission in the wake of the latest announcement of a manufacturing plant closure. Lea Industries, a furniture maker, will shut its Waynesville plant and put 240 people out of work before the first of the year. The Waynesville Country Club meeting was arranged to update local officials on efforts being made to help the workers and market the building.

Michael Hyatt of Lea Industries said the consolidation trend in the furniture industry — coupled with reduced sales by Lea’s major retailers like Heilig-Meyers, Sears and Montgomery Ward — forced the closure of the Waynesville plant. The last production day will be Dec. 21.

“But this meeting is not about Lea Industries, this is about families and workers and what is being done for them,” Hyatt said.

Employment Security Commission workers have been going to the plant about three times a week to meet individually with workers. A recent survey found that 57 of the workers had no high school diploma; that 115 want further education; that 126 want on-the-job training; and that 56 want job-seeking skills.

The average age of the Lea employee is 44, and there are 116 men and 73 women who responded to the survey, said Fouts.

Particularly important to Haywood County is another piece of data ESC officials disclosed at the meeting — 239 of the plants 244 employees reside in Haywood County.

Federal funds from the Trade Adjustment Assistant Act will pay for GED classes and even community college tuition, according to Fouts. Also available are funds for child care and transportation for those who are going back to school.

Haywood County ESC office manager Virginia Gribble said that office will also process unemployment claims for those who plan to file for benefits. DSS Director Tony Beaman said temporary financial assistance during a time of crisis was available through that agency, and insurance for adults and children was also a benefit. The N.C. Healthy Choice program allows low-income families to provide health insurance for their children for $50 per year and a maximum of $100 per year per family.

“We have a lot of services available and would be happy to come out to the plant to discuss them,” said Beaman.

Fouts said the health care industry and the service industry are among the career fields that should see growth in the near future despite the sluggish economy.

 

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