[NFBWV-Talk] Blind Industries announces plant closure

[Sheri Koch]

That is definitely surprising and distressing news!!!

Sheri

On Wed, Oct 6, 2021 at 9:37 PM Ed McDonald via NFBWV-Talk <
nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Story from Cumberland (MD) Times-News
>
> I am sure others on list will have more information about this.
>
>
>
> https://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/blind-industries-announces-plant-closure/article_fe7cf1c6-2608-11ec-9fed-8bf4b3d6e12e.html
>
> CUMBERLAND, Md. - Blind Industries and Services of Maryland announced
> Tuesday that it will close its textile sewing and manufacturing plant in
> Cumberland Oct. 29.
>
> The decision to close the plant, located at 322 Paca Street, will affect
> about 46 salaried and hourly employees, said Nikki Jackson, communications
> manager for Blind Industries, which is headquartered in Baltimore.
>
> "The decision to close the Cumberland plant came after a careful and
> strategic review of the crippling reduction of textile contracts available
> from BISM's federal government customers," said Frederick J. Puente,
> president of BISM, in a new release. "This decision was not easily made,
> and in no way reflects the performance of our leadership and employees in
> Cumberland or BISM's dedication to its mission."
>
> According to the release, employees from Cumberland will be given
> opportunities and assistance in applying for employment positions within
> BISM's other textile manufacturing locations, and the company has made
> plans to extend certain benefits and will pay severance payments to its
> employees based upon work history and years of service.
>
> Puente also cited changes in workforce and demographics in the Cumberland
> area and persistent decrease in the number of blind workers available for
> employment in the area as factors for the plant closing.
>
> "We were not given any heads up on it," said Matt Miller, director of the
> Cumberland Economic Development Corp. "Obviously it is disappointing. We
> will be reaching out to them and see if there is anything we can do to
> reverse the decision. If they are set in that regard, we will also see what
> we can do to find their current employees other work.
>
> "There are a number of job openings throughout the community. We want to
> do what we can to help place those workers in other suitable positions to
> retain them so they don't have to move away from the area. But, right now,
> we are limited on information."
>
> Greg Larry is a reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call
> 304-639-4951, email glarry at times-news.com
>
>
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