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Food plant closing continues loss of manufacturing jobs in Bedford
by - 06/06/2012
"Frozen foods have been coming out of the Brooks Food Group plant for more than 40 years.
On Monday, the Bedford-based company sent out its final shipments, marking the end for yet another Bedford manufacturer.
"It's a big impact on the city," said B"
Frozen foods have been coming out of the Brooks Food Group plant for more than 40 years.
On Monday, the Bedford-based company sent out its final shipments, marking the end for yet another Bedford manufacturer.
"It's a big impact on the city," said Bedford City Manager, Charles Kolakowski. "Obviously we're more concerned about the impact on the employees"
119 people are losing jobs. Some have been at the plant for decades.
At one time the food processor was one of dozens of manufacturers in Bedford. Today, the industrial core of the city is mostly empty. The loss of jobs and tax revenue is one reason why the city is trying to revert back to a town.
"It's been a long-term trend for many years, of industries either shutting down or relocating," said Kolakowski.
In 2001, money collected from industries made up half of the city's tax revenue, about $640,000.
A big chunk of that was lost when Rubatex, a rubber manufacturer closed in 2004.
"We've never really gotten back the resources we were able to get from Rubatex operating," said Kolakowski.
The former company generated nearly $300,000 for the city. A new owner is planning to re-open Rubatex next year, but with a much smaller workforce.
There are bright spots in Bedford's manufacturing economy. A company called "The Matrixx Group", which makes plastic materials, is expanding and adding new jobs.
Kolakowski says that doesn't make up for losing a longtime employer like Brooks.
"When you lose this many jobs in one shot, it's difficult to recover from," said Kolakowski. "It's another shot that you have to deal with."
Brooks is also closing a plant in North Carolina. The company is hoping to sell its facilities to a new owner, but even if that happens there's no guarantee the plants will re-open, or that the people being laid off Monday will get their jobs back.
More Details: http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-food-plant-closing-continues-loss-of-manufacturing-jobs-in-bedford-20120604,0,333619.story
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