\nJackson County Floridan<\/p>\n
By KATE McCARDELL
\nFloridan Staff Writer
\nApproximately 340 Panhandle residents learned Friday morning that they\u2019ll be losing their jobs as WestPoint Home in Chipley announced it is closure.
\nAccording to textile plant manager Terry Ellis, about 150 to 160 of those jobs are held by Jackson County residents.
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\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a very difficult day,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cThe final decision was made last week and I just announced it to all of our employees today (Friday). We all know the onslaught we\u2019ve had from the global competition, especially in the textile industry. We\u2019ve 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\u2019ve had with us through the years.\u201d
\nEllis said there is no deadline set for the closure. \u201cWe\u2019ve just begun the process. All these folks will have a job for at least the next couple months as we phase out. We\u2019ll be transitioning what business we have left,\u201d Ellis said.
\nEllis 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.
\nThe 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.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve always been lucky that we\u2019ve received wonderful support from both state and local officials. Workforce Florida has always been very supportive in helping us and with this transition they\u2019re stepping up to the plate again,\u2019 Ellis said. \u201cSo 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.\u201d
\nThat said, Ellis admitted it will be rough for those who are being laid off.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s still very difficult, though. We\u2019ve got a lot of dedicated employees and they don\u2019t want a handout. They want a job through which they can support their families.,\u201d Ellis said.
\nThe Chipley plant opened more than 25 years ago.
\nEllis said WestPoint Home in Chipley has been \u201cin constant lay-offs\u201d over the last three years.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had this cloud over our heads for the last seven or eight years and we\u2019ve managed to survive many hurdles through that time,\u201d Ellis said.
\nThree and a half years ago, WestPoint Home in Chipley had about 900 employees and produced about 250,000 units a week, Ellis said.
\n\u201cToday we\u2019re doing 60,000 units a week,\u201d Ellis said.
\nWestPoint closed its Marianna plant in 2014.
\nHe said the company also announced today the closure of two small plants in Biddeford, Me. and Elkin, N.C.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jackson County Floridan By KATE McCARDELL Floridan Staff Writer Approximately 340 Panhandle residents learned Friday morning that they\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n