THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AT PARKERSBURG'S AMES PLANT

(07/15/2005)

The Ames employees knew it was coming. The closure signal, while not final, has apparently been given. Ames True Temper may permanently close its Parkersburg plant, which employees 356 people, on September 15th. A notice regardig closure of the lawn and garden tool manufacturer has been sent to Parkersburg city officials. Earlier lay-offs happened, indicating many of the jobs were going to Mexico. Only 177 employees are still active. The rest are either on layoff, workers' compensation leave or are receiving accident or sickness benefits. The notice, a requirement of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which is related to jobs being globalized, didn't give a reason for the closure decision. Mayor Jimmy Colombo says he hasn't been told the reason either, but isn't surprised by the company's decision. He says the plant has been downsized steadily for several years. Ames True Temper has been in negotiations with the United Steelworkers Union on a new contract. Ames True Temper is the product of a 1999 merger of the True Temper Hardware Company in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and the Ames Company of Parkersburg. The company came to Parkersburg in the mid-1900s, and has been a source for employment for many Calhoun residents.

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