DUBLIN, Ga. — Editors Note: This story said roughly 330 people were employed at Flexsteel, which was what the Laurens County Development Authority had on its website. However, they now say that the plant employs around 150 people.
The fifth-largest employer in Laurens County is closing its doors, according to an announcement from the company, sending hundreds of employees into the job market.
Flexsteel, an Iowa-based company that manufactures residential furniture, said that they'll be closing their Dublin plant by the end of the company's 4th quarter in an effort "to optimize its North American manufacturing network."
Flexsteel announced the decision on Monday in a press release wrapping up the company's second quarter.
Flexsteel estimates that closing the facility will save the company $4 million to $4.5 million each year, the company said. However, it is unwelcome news to the roughly 330 people Flexsteel employs in Laurens County, according to the Laurens County Development Authority.
Flexsteel is expected to shell out between $2.5 million to $3.2 million for employee separations, along with around $500,000 to $700,000 in other expenses, the release said.
Then, the company's plant at 701 Industrial Blvd in Dublin will go up for sale. According to Laurens County tax records, Flexsteel's plant is valued at $4.4 million and the company also owns a $232,000 warehouse.
The decision also comes after Flexsteel had a relatively successful quarter, with sales growth of 7.5%, increasing from $93.1 million to $100.1 million.
Despite the news, Dublin and Laurens County still has a few major projects coming down the pipeline, including the construction of the Hwashin automobile parts plant which is projected to create 460 jobs. That plant recently broke ground.
Another automobile parts plant from Woory Industrial is expected to bring 130 new jobs to the county, which manufactures parts for Hyundai.
Flexsteel said that the Dublin facility is responsible for only 5% of the company's sales, but they believe that they'll be able to maintain the majority of these sales even after the plant closes.