LEWISTOWN - A leading manufacturer of non-powered lawn and garden tools announced Friday that it plans to close its Lewistown facility by the end of the year.
Ames True Temper will be closing its facility in the Mifflin County Industrial Park over the next several months, and plans to consolidate operations into its other facilities in Carlisle and Camp Hill, according to a press release issued by the company. Company officials said Ames True Temper is reducing its manufacturing footprint to improve operational efficiencies and cost structures, and the process of closing the Lewistown plant will begin shortly, with the facility projected to be completely closed by December.
"Clearly, we're disappointed by the company's decision," said Robert Postal, president and CEO of the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation, which plays a key role in attracting and supporting industries within the industrial park.
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Sentinel photo by BUFFIE?BOYER
Company officials at Ames True Temper, located in the Mifflin County Industrial Park, say the facility is slated for closure by December of this year.
"We have already met with the building's owner and begun planning a marketing strategy to have it reoccupied. It's a good facility," Postal said.
Ames True Temper has operated its Lewistown facility since 2005 and employs about 135 full-time employees at that location. According to the press release, affected employees will be offered severance assistance based on years of service and may have potential opportunities to transfer to the company's Carlisle, Camp Hill and McClure facilities as those opportunities become available.
"This situation is unfortunate, but we are confident we will be able to attract another quality business, the same way we attracted Ames True Temper eight years ago," Postal said.
