HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-10-21, Page 14Page 14 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Manufacturing loses one third of Huron County workforce
signal -star staff
It's a shifting economy and in places like Hu -
non County where manufacturing was king, it has
been a year of great loss.
According to Huron Manufacturing Associa-
tion President Chris Meier, about one-third of the
the manufacturing workforce is gone as employers
trimfrom their organizations to weather the
economic storm.
All told, he said 2,000 jobs have been lost in
Huron County in the last year alone.
"We couldn't have imagined even one segment,
taking a third of its workforce and then wiping it
out in twelve months," he said. `But each segment
has dropped off.
Employers, he said, are sympathetic where pos-
sibly; keeping people for non -crucial jobs, even at
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reduced hours. Job -sharing and wage cuts have
helped keep experienced staff around, and are
somewhat of a necessary evil, according to Meier,
they have to be.
"Many people vvorking 40 hours a week are
pleased to work thirty-five," he said. "But any time
four people complain, that's one job gone"
Less jobs, however, mean more people doing a
• variety of tasks. 'line days of one person, one job
are over, he said
"(As an employer) right now I only want a guy
that has ten abilities," he said. "It has become very
difficult for someone in the industry for 10-15
years who has found themselves out on the road.
If you had a job where you only had one step, you
became obsolete."
Whereas the agriculture and manufacturing
sectors would bolster each other when one or
the other failed, Meier said that is not happening
this time around and what jobs remain are paying
less.
The bulk of Huron's manufacturers employ five
people or fewer. Meier said he encourages small
business to specialize rather than fold as markets
dry up. Hu Wever, for business owners nearing
rtrement or relocating, it is sometimes easier to
close up shop than struggle against the economic
"We're losing some of that history that we've
built up over 20-30 years," he said `People have
that mentality - `I'm not hanging in there, I'm
throwing in the towel."'
Enter the Green Economy. Meier said a shift in
the manufacturing world toward the production of
wind energy and bio -fuels is in the cards for Hu-
ron County, but people need to get behind it
'The green economy is our area will be the
wind resources, the solar resources, the biofuel
resources," he said. 'We meed the manufacturing
base for that."
There is no shortage of opportunity for manu-
facturers to be successful going green, he said,
adding Huron County is set up to accommodate
the manufacturing shift.
'We have a foundry to make parts," he said.
'We have a haif,our here that is able to handle
shipments all over the world and the U.S. We have
a large landmass and no big cities. Solar and wind
will fit."
However, he said there is a lack of understand-
ing not only between the HMA and the county, but
between sectors themselves. Not -in -my -backyard
policies are restricting an industry that hasn't had
time to mature, he said. It will take the cooperation
of politicians, municipalities and industry heals to
put Huron on the right track.
"We're not criticizing the county, or the manu-
facturers," he said 'With good workers, groups
of good people and good communities we can
compete.
Gavin cleaning under new owners
Denny Snoii
signal -star staff
Gavin Cleaning & Disaster Renovation is
making a comeback under new ownership
and management.
The company changed hands in June of
2009, and the 25 -year-old company is now un-
der the ownership of Darryl McMillen. Kevin
loin us
`Fora
ffig!
s,+.¥
"Come & Go
Celebration
Sunday, October 25
1-5P.M.
Stanley Community Centre, Varna ,
GREETINGS AT 2:30 PM
to Honour:
Melissa Sparling
Ontario Queen of the Furrow, 2009-2010
Brandon McGavin
2009 Canadian Junior Plowing Champion
& Ontario Junior Champion Tractor
PlowPerson & Scholarship Winner
-• Jacob McGavin --
_2009 Junior Champion Tractor PlowPersor
Along with All Huron County Plowers!!
Oft/qprrollfttptvit-
iff
Fritzley is the the new general manager.
The company, which has, in recentyears,
focused more on cleaning, is branching out
to all kinds of disaster restoration and repair,
hoping to keep business local, instead of hav-
ing outside firms come in after disasters.
"We are excited to continue the carpet clean-
ing, and flood, wind and fire damage services
to the area," McMillen stated.
Fritzley and McMillen have had a success-
ful start to the endeavor, with carpet cleaning
going well.
The pair also took time to receive their In-
stitute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration
Certification (IICRC) insurance contractor
certificates, which authorizes them to repair'
flood, fire, smoke, odor and mold damage.
"We plan to purchase and train with a ther-
mal imaging camera. This will easily deter-
mine heat loss areas as well as flood or wet
walls for drying and repairs," McMillen said.
Recently, the company started offering tile
and grout cleaning along with their carpet
cleaning.
McMillen and Fritzley plan to take this 16-
cal
o-cal business and support other local businesses
with it.
"We're going to -try and support the commu-
nity," McMillen said. "We'll hire local contrac-
tors, get our supplies locally, and hire labour-
ers locally."
The company is hoping their focus on
friendly service and customer satisfaction, and
the independent nature of their services, will
result in successful, long-lasting business.
Fritzley can be reached at 519-5242440 for
cleaning appointments, and, for emergency
services, he can be reached by paging 888-
220-4223.