WGBA -Shawano Shocked After Owen's Closing
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Citing the bad housing market, Owens Incorporated has closed both of their plants in Shawano. The move was sudden and shocking to employees and those who live in Shawano. "It's heartbreaking for a lot of people I know that." Said Ron Fuller who lives in nearby Gresham.
150 jobs were eliminated with the closings causing a ripple impact on the community."My sister works there actually, yesterday was her last day. out of the blue, gone." Robert Ohrmundt told us.
Owens, incorporated, made windows and doors for new home construction. A market that has been hit hard by the recession. Shawano City Administrator Jim Stadler says the timing could not be worse. "This really hurts the City of Shawano and the surrounding area."
Shawano has reason to be disappointed. Back in February they teamed up with other agencies to offer Owens an incentive package totaling $1.5 million dollars. The city and county each kicked in $150,000. The money is gone, but Stadler says the city stands behind the bailout, saying it kept Owens in the local economy another year. "If we didn't make the loan in February, it probably would have closed in February."
Friday Afternoon, lawyers filed for receivership in Shawano County Court. It's a way to administer the plants assets, until they can be auctioned off, in February."They did everything they could, but the recession just caught up to them." Former worker Mary McIntosh said.
Workers will get two months severance following the lay-off.
