Receiver Seeks Buyer for Whitley Products
Marshall County’s new economic development director is cautiously optimistic a deal can be finalized to keep a local factory in business. Jay Bahr tells “The South Bend Tribune” the receiver in charge of Whitley Products is trying to find another buyer for the financially strapped business. A deal fell apart Friday because the two sides were too far apart on price, forcing the embattled Plymouth plant to close its doors. About 40 people are without jobs as a result. Whitley Products makes fabricated tubular products for agriculture and off-road heavy equipment. The company’s fate has been uncertain for the past several months. It first closed in January, citing financial problems, but reopened a week later. Whitley Products officials then sent a WARN notice to the state advising it “would likely permanently cease all its operations” in Warsaw and Plymouth and all employees would be terminated between April 22 and May 6.
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Search Continues for MCEDC Director
Board member Roger Umbaugh gave an update on the search to the Marshall County Council members. The board has waded through the many applications and have decided upon eight candidates who will be interviewed over the phone. Many of the candidates live outside Marshall County, even out of the state. Umbaugh pointed out that all candidates have local roots. He hopes a new director will be active by the end of March.
Jennifer Laurent was the last director and she left the Economic Development Corporation in December.
Umbaugh also reported that 320 new jobs were new to the county in 2012, including many factories and industry opportunities.
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