Bethany Tabb, Courier-Times Staff Writer
Metaldyne will close a little later than expected, but economic development officials are already planning for the next step.
On May 29, corporate officials announced they would close the New Castle plant for good within 90 days. That news came just two days after the Michigan-based company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Corporate spokeswoman Marge Sorge said the closure date was originally slated for July 31. But on Wednesday, she said it will stay open for about two more weeks after that.
Chrysler asked that the plant stay open in order to build up Chrysler's inventory, Sorge said.
Right now there are about 350 hourly and salaried employees working three shifts. She said half will leave at the end of the month, and the rest will stay until the inventory buildup is complete.
Jeana Davis, director of New Castle's Economic Development Directorate, had hoped to avoid the impending loss of jobs.
On June 15, she told City Council members there was a local proposal being made to Chrysler that could save 300 to 400 jobs.
But on Tuesday, she said that effort failed. She wouldn't comment on what that proposal was except that it was an internal effort by Metaldyne employees.
"But you know, they gave their best shot," she said. "I think that's important."
Right now, she's trying to be proactive about filling the building, which is owned by Metaldyne, with a new company. She said she has a marketing plan and has developed a flier to advertise it.
Davis is also working with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to receive leads on potential buyers. So far she's had three leads, one of which was more interested than the others, she said.
But make no mistake, she said, economic development is hard right now.
"It was tough before," she said. "It's even tougher now in these economic times."
Davis said she'd like to find a green or high-tech industry to go in the building. But she said she's open to anything that pays a good wage and offers opportunities to the community.
Because Metaldyne's a fairly new building, she said an industry moving in wouldn't have to do much work to it.
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