By Scott Olson, The IBJ
solson@ibj.com
Nearly 600 Hoosiers are losing their jobs as the result of more manufacturing plants closings, including one operated by Firestone Industrial Products Co. in Noblesville.
In a state filing made public today, Firestone said the facility will close by June 26, putting 195 union members out of work. Forty-three salaried employees will be phased out by the end of the year. The company terminated 41 hourly workers last month.
Executives said in June that the company would consider closing the plant because of competition from foreign markets and filed notice with the United Steelworkers union. The plant has been in Noblesville for nearly 75 years.
Also, Keystone RV Co. Inc. notified the state that it will close three plants - two in Goshen and one in Howe - by May 1. The company told 265 workers of its decision Feb. 2.
Almost no place in the country has been hit as hard by the recession as the northern Indiana cities that make up the heart of the nation's RV industry.
While pitching his economic recovery plan Monday, President Barack Obama visited Elkhart County, where the unemployment rate hit 15.3 percent in December.
And ASF-Keystone Inc. in Hammond said it will stop manufacturing freight car components by April 11, leaving 74 employees jobless.