Danville Tobacco Processing Plant To Close

Source from:  news.yahoo.com 12/15/2005

A 32-year-old tobacco processing plant in Danville will close by the end of the year. Universal Corporation said this week it will close the 1.2 million-square-foot plant on Kentuck Road. The move will eliminate 77 full-time jobs and more than 300 seasonal jobs. Company officials blamed a decline in U.S. tobacco production for the decision. Spokesman Tom Haymore said the nation's production and consumption has dropped more than 10 percent within the last four years. "Unfortunately, it just kept declining to the point where it became no longer feasible for us to run this factory," he said. "Because there just wasn't enough tobacco flowing through it to justify keeping it open." Rick Jones, who operates a nearby restaurant, said he'll have to find a way to keep his doors open. He's welcomed customers from the plant for 17 years. "It's pretty devastating losing a company like Universal Leaf," he said. Universal said it expects to offer some employees jobs at other plants. Enditem