Plant Shutdown in Mt. Airy, NC Has Regional Impact-Retraining Urgent
January 22, 2007
Cross Creek Apparel, Inc., Mt. Airy, NC recently announced it would close the plant and cut 300 manufacturing jobs in August, 2007.
Now we learn that the city of Mt. Airy, will loose an important water customer, which is 18% of the water and sewer budget. That means $960,000 in fees lost. (Reference: Winston-Salem Journal, Jan. 21, 2007)
No doubt we have residents of Patrick County, VA impacted since many from our county have worked in factories in Mt. Airy for a long time.
I have heard the family story from my mother, Essie Bishop, who got a job at the Hatcher’s Mill in Mt. Airy, back in the 1930’s. She and her twin sister from Claudville, went to see Mr. Les Hatcher and he said he had only one job to offer. My mother got the job and her twin sister went home to Claudville, VA without a job. Mr. Hatcher was from Claudville and owned Hatcher’s Dairy Farm. Later the company became Spencer’s.
It is common knowledge that Spencer’s in Mt. Airy is now ready for total shutdown. Shutdown is expected sometime during 2007.
Retraining of factory (textile) workers is a major issue that must be addressed. Training in new careers, is needed so our residents can re-enter the job market. Some may have to become more computer literate, so they can work for call centers, which have become the rage in Southwest Virginia. According to Classified ads, these jobs are in great demand, for such companies as Accreetive, Star-Tek and Results-Stuart. Training for employees in the medical profession is need too. Memorial Hospital, Home Healthcare, Team Nurse, and Blue Ridge Nursing are placing ads for CNA’s, RN’s, and LPN’s on a regular basis.
Local restaurant owners, report that getting good dependable food service personnel is a serious threat to their ability to their continued operation.
We must look to various agencies, such as, Workforce Investment Board, Patrick Henry Community College, National College, and the Patrick County Education Foundation to help us further develop the workforce.
Growth in retail and tourism industry, holds hope for many looking for jobs. But they too will have to be trained to meet the public, assist travelers with tourism information, and become ambassadors for our area attractions.
Industry, government agencies, and public educational systems, will have to work hard to equip people for this rapidly changing opportunities for employment. People looking for jobs must spend many long hours re-equipping themselves for the world we now live in.
Written by: Tom Bishop, Executive Director, Patrick County Chamber of Commerce
Date: January 21, 2007