July 11, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.
Dayton Progress facility to close
Dayton Progress facility to close
Portland will be losing an employer.
Dayton Progress, a branch of Dayton Lamina, informed local officials this week that it will be closing its Portland facility in the fall.
Randy Wissinger, chief financial officer of Dayton Lamina, told Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman and Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards during a phone call Monday that the facility will be closing by the end of September. There are about 30 employees locally who will be gradually let go until the site ceases operation.
“We’ve been able to maintain a diverse industry base, and when we lose one like that that’s completely different than the other industries, that’s always disappointing,” said Geesaman.
The Commercial Review was unable to reach Dayton Progress officials for comment prior to press time.
Employees who will no longer have jobs at the 1314 N. Meridian St. location will be offered positions at the company’s main plant in Dayton, Ohio.
For those who aren’t interested in those positions, Richards is hopeful that new jobs can be found locally. The most recent statistics show Jay County had an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent in May.
“Many local employers are currently hiring,” said Richards, “and with unemployment rates I’m hopeful that most people who find themselves without jobs can find a replacement relatively quick.”
Dayton Progress, a branch of Dayton Lamina, informed local officials this week that it will be closing its Portland facility in the fall.
Randy Wissinger, chief financial officer of Dayton Lamina, told Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman and Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards during a phone call Monday that the facility will be closing by the end of September. There are about 30 employees locally who will be gradually let go until the site ceases operation.
“We’ve been able to maintain a diverse industry base, and when we lose one like that that’s completely different than the other industries, that’s always disappointing,” said Geesaman.
The Commercial Review was unable to reach Dayton Progress officials for comment prior to press time.
Employees who will no longer have jobs at the 1314 N. Meridian St. location will be offered positions at the company’s main plant in Dayton, Ohio.
For those who aren’t interested in those positions, Richards is hopeful that new jobs can be found locally. The most recent statistics show Jay County had an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent in May.
“Many local employers are currently hiring,” said Richards, “and with unemployment rates I’m hopeful that most people who find themselves without jobs can find a replacement relatively quick.”
Geesaman and Richards said it was explained to them that customers of Dayton Progress — the company manufactures punches, die retainers and custom tooling for the metal-stamping industry — used to be about 70 percent domestic compared to 30 percent foreign. Now the industry has shifted, with about 60 percent of the customer base outside of the United States.
Geesaman noted that the company reported losing money at the Portland facility for the last four years.
“They just could not see how they could survive any longer. They just felt like they had no choice,” he said. “They did not want to have to do it, but after four years losing money here and the market share has dried up, they had no choice.”
The goal for Richards will be to get a new business in the building as soon as possible.
“It’s never good to lose a local industry,” he said. “Hopefully we can market the building in such a way to attract another business.”
According to its website, Dayton Lamina has about 1,500 employees and about $200 million in sales annually. In addition to Indiana and Ohio, it has factories in Michigan, Wisconsin, Canada, Mexico, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Japan and China.
Geesaman noted that the company reported losing money at the Portland facility for the last four years.
“They just could not see how they could survive any longer. They just felt like they had no choice,” he said. “They did not want to have to do it, but after four years losing money here and the market share has dried up, they had no choice.”
The goal for Richards will be to get a new business in the building as soon as possible.
“It’s never good to lose a local industry,” he said. “Hopefully we can market the building in such a way to attract another business.”
According to its website, Dayton Lamina has about 1,500 employees and about $200 million in sales annually. In addition to Indiana and Ohio, it has factories in Michigan, Wisconsin, Canada, Mexico, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Japan and China.
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