Departure of Graham a test of our fortitude

In spite of months of intense efforts by local officials and business representatives, Graham Packaging announced this week its plan to close its plant in Vandalia. The closure will be effective in July.
That decision leaves 126 hourly employees and 12 salaried employees – along with 77 hourly employees who are currently on layoff – without jobs. And it puts a giant dent in the Vandalia economy, as the buying power of those 215 families is diminished.
The plant has been producing plastic containers in the Vandalia plant under a variety of owners since 1969, and is one of 97 plants owned by Graham Packaging in 15 countries. It formerly operated under the names of Imco Container, Brockway and Owens-Illinois.
As Mayor Rick Gottman said this week, it’s a sad day for Vandalia. The plant has been among the mainstays of our employment base for more than 40 years. And even though the employment numbers there have fallen over the years, the facility has supported hundreds of families during those four decades.
Some employees may have opportunities to relocate with the company, but many will not have the flexibility to move to other states or even other regions of the country to keep a job with Graham Packaging.
We wish those employees well, and we hope they are able to find meaningful employment.
For city officials and other economic leaders, the task ahead of us is to redouble our efforts to bring a new employer to town that can utilize the facility and put the employees back to work. The facility is there, the workers are there; we just need to identify a company that can capitalize on the situation.
In a letter to its employees, Graham Packaging officials praised the workers here. And they were quick to point out that “the decision to close the Vandalia plant is not a reflection on the work force, but rather a result of the overall company strategy of plant rationalization and optimization of its network.”
We know well the caliber of the workers here. We need to introduce them to another company that is looking to expand. And we need to show that company that Vandalia is the kind of town that will make their investment here pay off.
The coming months will undoubtedly test our mettle. But the process also offers a chance to show prospective companies that Vandalia has a lot to offer.
db