Truth Staff Report
One of the area's major employers said it's closing three plants in Elkhart County.
Monaco Coach Corp. announced that it's stopping operations in Elkhart, Nappanee and Wakarusa. (A link to the press release is here.)
It will move some operations to Coburg, Ore., and Warsaw, but the closings will impact 1,400 jobs, according to a press release from the company, which said that total is a third of its total workforce. The Goshen, Milford and Warsaw plants will have 700 employees. The shutdown is scheduled for Sept. 17.
Hourly and salaried employees at the three plants will be affected. They were told Thursday of the changes.
Kay Toolson, chairman and chief executive officer, said the company tried to deal with declining market demand, but market conditions have continued to deteriorate and "we do not see significant improvements in the near future."
"We deeply regret the impact that shutting down these operations will have on our employees and their families as well as the communities in which they live and work," she said, in the press release.
Monaco is the country's leading producer of diesel motorhomes. Its headquarters are in Coburg, Ore.