300 jobs lost in Jonesville
Liz Essley
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
Over 300 local employees will lose their jobs starting around Jan. 10, 2009. SKD Automotive Group, an auto parts supplier, informed the village of Jonesville in a letter last week that it would cut positions "to restructure certain operations," according to a press release issued by the village.
Village Manager Adam Smith said he had spoken with SKD Vice President of Operations Jeff Daniel, who confirmed that the job cuts resulted from continuing struggles of the automotive industry as a whole.
SKD is the largest employer in Jonesville and has a total taxable value exceeding $7.7 million.
"I think it's a huge blow to the county," said Charlene Page, director of the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership.
She said county unemployment rates - now at 10.8 percent - have been inching up since summer. In August they sat at 10.6 percent, two points higher than September 2007's 8.3 percent. The numbers follow a statewide trend of steadily rising unemployment rates.
Smith said he sent a letter to SKD on Tuesday morning, extending "an open invitation to discuss the situation."
Smith wished to emphasize the village's business-friendly climate, including its $1.2 million infrastructure project and the seven industrial tax exemptions it has awarded since 2001.
"We're opening the dialogue," Smith said.
The company's initial letter to Jonesville came in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, which requires employers to give 60 days notice before mass layoffs.
The South Central Michigan Works! Rapid Response Process and Procedures will step in to help the workers retrain and find jobs in the area, the village said in a press release.
Village Manager Adam Smith said he had spoken with SKD Vice President of Operations Jeff Daniel, who confirmed that the job cuts resulted from continuing struggles of the automotive industry as a whole.
SKD is the largest employer in Jonesville and has a total taxable value exceeding $7.7 million.
"I think it's a huge blow to the county," said Charlene Page, director of the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership.
She said county unemployment rates - now at 10.8 percent - have been inching up since summer. In August they sat at 10.6 percent, two points higher than September 2007's 8.3 percent. The numbers follow a statewide trend of steadily rising unemployment rates.
Smith said he sent a letter to SKD on Tuesday morning, extending "an open invitation to discuss the situation."
Smith wished to emphasize the village's business-friendly climate, including its $1.2 million infrastructure project and the seven industrial tax exemptions it has awarded since 2001.
"We're opening the dialogue," Smith said.
The company's initial letter to Jonesville came in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, which requires employers to give 60 days notice before mass layoffs.
The South Central Michigan Works! Rapid Response Process and Procedures will step in to help the workers retrain and find jobs in the area, the village said in a press release.
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