Wellco Enterprises, Inc., which has been making military boots since 1941, will close the doors at its Waynesville plant in September.
Wellco employs about 75 people, according to the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.
“Unfortunately, it is no longer economically feasible for Wellco to continue its Waynesville operations,” Lee Ferguson, chief executive officer of Tactical Holdings, Inc., parent company of Wellco, said in a news release. “After months of analysis it was abundantly clear that the closure was necessary.”
Wellco’s Waynesville property has been sold to Haywood Vocational Opportunities, which hopes to create 75 full-time jobs within two years of moving into the Wellco facility, according to a news release. The move is anticipated for early winter of next year.
HVO is a private, not-for-profit corporation providing vocational training and employment to adults with disadvantages and disabilities, according to its Web site.
“We’re looking forward to the expansion in general and consequently, looking forward to 2010 when we’re able to hopefully move into the property,” HVO president George Marshall said. “We’re very excited about the opportunity to create some jobs in Haywood County, with the unfortunate closure of Wellco.”
HVO employs 321 full-time workers and serves more than 250 people in its employment and training programs annually. Over the past three years, HVO has increased its full-time work force by 101.
Wellco operations will permanently close about Sept. 16, according to a Wellco news release. Distribution center operations will cease as soon as possible thereafter, but no later than Dec. 31.
Wellco reached a lease agreement with HVO for the Ro-Search machine shop, which will continue its operations in Waynesville. Ro-Search Inc., which makes and sells custom designed hydraulic presses and molds, and other specialized machinery required for making footwear, is adjacent to the Wellco office.
Although sad to see Wellco close, Haywood County Economic Development Commission executive director Mark Clasby said the opportunity of adding new jobs to the area is exciting.
“HVO has been one of the great success stories for Haywood County,” Clasby said. “Adding potentially 75 new jobs over the next couple of years is very, very exciting.”
Source: Asheville Citizen Times
