Related links
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS -
By next year, another West Michigan business plans to close its doors, leaving almost 300 people without a job.
Workers at Lift Tech in Muskegon Heights got the word Tuesday. The company has been a part of the Heights for decades.
"That Lift Tech or that company has been in the community a 100 years," said Muskegon Area First President Ed Garner. "It's a long standing history here in the county of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, and we certainly hate to lose that."
Local and state leaders were working on a plan to make the factory a renaissance zone, which would have left the company almost tax free. But in the end, Columbus McKinnon, Lift Tech's parent company, decided it needed to consolidate.
"The costs associated with manufacturing in that facility really just couldn't be overcome," said Columbus McKinnon Vice President of Finance Karen Howard.
The plant's union said it was even willing to work with the company to keep about 280 people employed.
"We put a proposal on the table that said, 'Whatever you want, we'll give it to you, just tell us what you want,'" said United Steel Workers Representative Tonya DeVoer.
It's not just the workers who will lose out. Thomas Schultz opened his bar and restaurant right across the street from Lift Tech in 1975. He worked there for about a year when he was 19.
"To start with, it was going real good. And about two weeks after we opened up, they knocked the third shift off," said Schultz.
After 34 years, he's beginning to worry about his future.
"I think we can still make it," said Schultz. "We're going to have to cut hours and cut wages or cut personnel to make it through."
The union plans to launch an investigation to see if there's any legal action they can take to keep Lift Tech open in Muskegon. They say the factory makes money so they'll try to fight.
Columbus McKinnon says those in Muskegon will be able to apply for jobs with the company in other states.
Workers at Lift Tech in Muskegon Heights got the word Tuesday. The company has been a part of the Heights for decades.
"That Lift Tech or that company has been in the community a 100 years," said Muskegon Area First President Ed Garner. "It's a long standing history here in the county of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, and we certainly hate to lose that."
Local and state leaders were working on a plan to make the factory a renaissance zone, which would have left the company almost tax free. But in the end, Columbus McKinnon, Lift Tech's parent company, decided it needed to consolidate.
"The costs associated with manufacturing in that facility really just couldn't be overcome," said Columbus McKinnon Vice President of Finance Karen Howard.
The plant's union said it was even willing to work with the company to keep about 280 people employed.
"We put a proposal on the table that said, 'Whatever you want, we'll give it to you, just tell us what you want,'" said United Steel Workers Representative Tonya DeVoer.
It's not just the workers who will lose out. Thomas Schultz opened his bar and restaurant right across the street from Lift Tech in 1975. He worked there for about a year when he was 19.
"To start with, it was going real good. And about two weeks after we opened up, they knocked the third shift off," said Schultz.
After 34 years, he's beginning to worry about his future.
"I think we can still make it," said Schultz. "We're going to have to cut hours and cut wages or cut personnel to make it through."
The union plans to launch an investigation to see if there's any legal action they can take to keep Lift Tech open in Muskegon. They say the factory makes money so they'll try to fight.
Columbus McKinnon says those in Muskegon will be able to apply for jobs with the company in other states.
