Jackson County Floridan
By KATE McCARDELL
Floridan Staff Writer
Approximately 340 Panhandle residents learned Friday morning that they’ll be losing their jobs as WestPoint Home in Chipley announced it is closure.
According to textile plant manager Terry Ellis, about 150 to 160 of those jobs are held by Jackson County residents.
“It’s been a very difficult day,” Ellis said. “The final decision was made last week and I just announced it to all of our employees today (Friday). We all know the onslaught we’ve had from the global competition, especially in the textile industry. We’ve been able to survive here at Chipley for much longer than the vast majority. I think we can attribute that to the workforce we have here; the kind of hard working and dedicated people we’ve had with us through the years.”
Ellis said there is no deadline set for the closure. “We’ve just begun the process. All these folks will have a job for at least the next couple months as we phase out. We’ll be transitioning what business we have left,” Ellis said.
Ellis said the WestPoint Home employees will receive assistance through the closure. Most of the employees could be eligible for support through federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Act benefits, he said.
The act provides training to employees who have lost their jobs as a result of increased imports or the shifting of production to outside the United States.
“We’ve always been lucky that we’ve received wonderful support from both state and local officials. Workforce Florida has always been very supportive in helping us and with this transition they’re stepping up to the plate again,’ Ellis said. “So our folks will have the potential for assistance while they get retraining and go back to school to learn a different trade. It will also help cover the cost of health insurance.”
That said, Ellis admitted it will be rough for those who are being laid off.
“It’s still very difficult, though. We’ve got a lot of dedicated employees and they don’t want a handout. They want a job through which they can support their families.,” Ellis said.
The Chipley plant opened more than 25 years ago.
Ellis said WestPoint Home in Chipley has been “in constant lay-offs” over the last three years.
“We’ve had this cloud over our heads for the last seven or eight years and we’ve managed to survive many hurdles through that time,” Ellis said.
Three and a half years ago, WestPoint Home in Chipley had about 900 employees and produced about 250,000 units a week, Ellis said.
“Today we’re doing 60,000 units a week,” Ellis said.
WestPoint closed its Marianna plant in 2014.
He said the company also announced today the closure of two small plants in Biddeford, Me. and Elkin, N.C.
