Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Approximately 192 employees were permanently laid off from Outboard Marine Corp. Aluminum Boat Group, Syracuse, in December.
Dana Corp.'s Syracuse plant will indefinitely lay off approximately 215 of its employees soon, mostly hourly production workers and some management employees.
Commodore Home Systems closed its Syracuse plant late last year, idling more than 100 workers.
In addition, a representative from Parker Engineered Seals, formerly Syracuse Rubber Products, said, "We did let our temps go, but there are no layoffs other than that." She noted that production is slow at this time.
And Phillips Industries Stamping already has notified its 36 employees it will close at the end of May. Phillips manufactures hose clamps and spray control products for the trucking industry. Its Syracuse operations are being consolidated with its sister plant in Garland, Texas.
"It's just amazing," said Pam Houser, Combined Community Services North.
"(Syracuse is) going to be affected tremendously," said Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steven Hite Monday. OMC is integrated with other businesses in Syracuse, he said, and OMC's lay-offs will affect the other businesses.
To help laid-off Syracuse residents, Hite said, "We are doing an emergency job fair Saturday at the high school in the commons area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m."
Employers with positions available, either part-time or full-time, he said, are encouraged to contact the Chamber if they have openings and put up a table at the job fair. The chamber's number is 457-5637 or information regarding a job opening can be faxed to 528-6040 to be posted at the job fair.
"If a company wants to set up a table," said Hite, "give us a call."
Kosciusko Workforce Development plans to hold classes, too, on how to write a resume and how to apply for unemployment benefits.
Combined Community Services North, 612 Huntington St., Syracuse, can help laid-off employees with utility bills, medication, clothing or food.
Houser said they have seen approximately 60 OMC families so far to help them with utilities or food. If they can't help a family meet a need, Houser said, "We can certainly act as a referral bank" to help families find some direction as to where to find assistance.
She said she knows they will continue to see more families.
"Absolutely," she said. "Dana had their layoffs last Friday" and CCS North will be helping them. She said there are other reported layoffs in the area whose employees CCS will try to help, too.
"I know that all the churches in my area are doing a referral to us so everyone has one common ground to start off at," Houser said.
Ray Darr, Turkey Creek Township trustee, said, "We offer food, utilities and rent (assistance)." He said each case is evaluated on an individual basis and people can make appointments.
"They seem to find me pretty easily," he said.
Brian Redshaw, Syracuse town manager, said the townspeople are concerned about helping the growing number of unemployed.
"We just have to take the appropriate action to make sure there aren't any long-lasting consequences," he said today.
