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By Lisa Majors-Duff
Chester Godfrey, president of Godfrey Lumber Co. in Statesville,
confirmed Tuesday he has called for a temporary layoff of Clearwood
employees in Whittier.
"We haven't decided what to do," Godfrey said about
the company's future plans. "We'll be taking a short break
and reassessing things."
Clearwood's December 1997 opening in Whittier's former Drexel
Heritage plant marked the beginning of Jackson County's efforts
to make over the area as an industrial park. Through the non-profit
Jackson Development Corp., land and buildings such as those previously
owned by the furniture manufacturer could be purchased and leased
to new industries, which would, in turn, employ local people.
Clearwood, which makes wood products from scraps, chips and substandard
wood, hired many of those laid off when Drexel Heritage closed
in June 1997. With the prospect of 60 jobs, Godfrey was recommended
to receive $240,000 in state economic development funds and another
$250,000 from the county's revolving loan fund.
"We been talking with Mr. Godfrey for a couple of weeks about
the company's future," said Tamera Crisp of Jackson County's
Economic Development department. "This is extremely devastating,
especially with the economy being so tough in this region."
Crisp said Godfrey, whose company hired 44 people and still owes
Jackson County about $135,000, "hopes he can turn it around
and find some way to keep (the Whittier plant) open."
"We should know more in a couple of weeks," Godfrey
said.
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