Grede Manufacturing in Brewton to Close Doors After 50 Years

Escambia County, AL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Bad news is brewing in Brewton. The largest employer in the community is planning to shut their doors. Grede manufacturing says they'll be halting operations at the Brewton factory and laying off 220 workers.

"When any business closes, that's not something you want to see happen," says Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace. "The larger the business the more impacts you have on people, on cities..."

Lovelace says the good news is those workers are not unskilled, and he believes they won't have any trouble finding new jobs.

Residents tell Channel 3 the announcement was unexpected. The Grede factory has been operating in Brewton for 50 years.

Grede tells AL.com the company is considering using the existing plant as a storage site or for research purposes. They also say each of the employees have been offered severance packages.