CertainTeed Closing

Meridian, MS- CertainTeed's announcement last Tuesday came as unfortunate news spurred by the economy.  Due to decelerated commercial building and other financial factors, the Meridian plant's production of ceiling tiles and acoustical wall panels will be indefinitely idled by mid-August and will be consolidated to a sister plant in Michigan.   Shipping and Sales will remain at the Meridian Plant.

"As the economy has continued to struggle, both plants were operating below capacity.  We have done exhaustive analysis and have determined that consolidating production at one facility was the most effective decision from both productivity and service standpoints,"� says Kyle Watts, Plant Manager at CertainTeed.   "I contacted the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, and they immediately secured an audience with the governor and Mississippi Development Authority.  The EMBDC was instrumental in helping secure tax incentives and stimulus money. The decision came down to which facility is able to best service our customers, based on logistics, equipment capabilities and production efficiencies"�and the choice was Michigan."�

As a result of the amalgamation, ninety employees are being laid off from the company.  However, CertainTeed is committed to providing resources needed to identify new opportunities in Meridian and within CertainTeed.  Additionally, the EMBDC is committed to aiding employees in workforce development and linking them with prospective companies that fit their skill sets.

Kyle Watts adds, "The EMBDC is helping put us in contact with businesses that could potentially provide jobs for those who were affected by the closing."�  Our commitment is to work with Meridian Community College, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Development Authority to identify job opportunities for our employees."�

"Governor Barbour made personal calls to company officers and offered significant financial incentives to entice CertainTeed to remain in Meridian,"� says Wade Jones, President of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation.  "However, the Michigan plant required less capital infusion to take on the Meridian production."�

In these economic times, it is important to remain positive and optimistic as prospective companies consider Meridian and Lauderdale County for new locations.  We are being judged on how well we respond to adversity.  Our responsibility is to nurture Lauderdale County's existing employers while being relentless in our efforts to locate new companies for those unemployed and underemployed.

While the Meridian area is not insulated from the recession, we are fortunate to have significant investments in our healthcare community and military installations.  These major employers, along with the local business and industry, stabilize the area's economy in uncertain economic times. 

Meridian and Lauderdale County are well poised to attract new investment in the service and industrial sectors.  Our allies at the local, state, and national levels recognize the progress that has been made in east Mississippi and west Alabama.  We are grateful to the Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Power Company, East Mississippi Electric Power Association and East Central Planning and Development District for the contributions they have made in locating Tower Automotive, Teikuro, Inc., Summer Industries, N.E.W. Corporation and Handy Hardware.

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