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September 30, 2008

Mohawk closing Fort Oglethorpe plant

From Staff Reports



Calhoun-based Mohawk Industries will cut about 230 jobs when it closes a synthetic carpet yarn plant at 365 Patterson Ave. in Fort Oglethorpe by the end of November.

Like other floorcovering companies, Mohawk Industries has been hit hard by the economic slowdown, the slumping housing market and skyrocketing cost of oil. These factors have caused a reduced demand for floorcovering and led to job cuts throughout the industry. Earlier this year, Dalton-based Shaw Industries laid off 67 employees and closed its Ringgold carpet finishing department, Chattanooga-based Dixie Group announced that it would cut 8 percent of its 1,400-person work force, and Mohawk laid off 366 workers when the company closed a plant in Dahlonega.

Officials with Mohawk, the world’s largest floorcovering company, couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Michael Thurmond, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, said the department will assist employees who are expected to lose their jobs.

“The layoff at Mohawk Industries in Fort Oglethorpe will create an unfortunate situation for the workers and their families,” Thurmond said. “Georgia Department of Labor staff will meet with them as soon as possible to explain the services available to help them get back to work as quickly as possible.”

The labor department provides a wide range of transitional services to laid-off workers. These include on-site employee information sessions describing services available through the Department of Labor, assistance in filing claims for unemployment compensation, re-employment services, access to retraining opportunities, skills assessment and correlation with available employment opportunities, special workshops on career options and resume writing and interviewing skills.

The department conducts job search workshops and career counseling, and provides resource centers in each office. Some job seekers may also be eligible for occupational/skills training, on-the-job training, General Education Development (GED) preparation and testing, and support services such as child care assistance, transportation assistance and meals while enrolled in full-time training.

Catoosa County is served by the department’s Northwest Georgia Career Center at 96 Stuart Road in Fort Oglethorpe. The phone number is (706) 861-1990. Affected workers may get assistance from any of the department’s 53 career centers statewide, including the one in Dalton at 1406 Chattanooga Ave. That phone number is (706) 272-2301.

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