Several area businesses are feeling the impact of a national downturn in the economy, leaving many area workers without a job. The overall number of workers being affected is not totally known, though in the BRADD region alone, the number exceeds well over 1,300 so far in the first quarter of 2009. Helena Chase, BRADD Trade Coordinator for the BRWIA, has responded to most facilities that have been affected to offer Rapid Response services. In the month of January, Helena and her team assisted the following employees: “DESA had a total layoff of 500 employees, we provided offsite services here at the BRADD Conference Center”, says Ms. Chase. The team also provided services for Harman Becker in Simpson County, and due to some bad weather in January, followed up in February. They laid off 100 employees.

Rapid Response service was provided to SKF USA Inc. in Glasgow. SKF plans to lay off 95 employees, and will execute a total shutdown by March 31, 2009. Some salaried employees will go to Mexico for a few months and then return to begin Trade services at that time. SKF is a trade -affected company which employed 150 workers. In March J L French Corp. was provided off site service at the Glasgow Regional Campus for 180 employees, and service was provided for about half that number. Also in January, the team met with ACK Controls in Glasgow. ACK Controls laid off 100 employees. This was a reflection of the downturn in the automotive industry. In February the Rapid Response was in Allen county providing offsite services to Sumitomo, who laid off 46 employees. Also in February, services were provided to Dollar General, who laid off 60 employees at their distribution center. In March, Metcalfe county (Edmonton), the team responded to Sumitomo Electrical Wiring Systems, and they had a total lay off of 145 employees. Again in March, services to Berry Plastic in Franklin, KY for 120 employees, 104 hourly and the rest salaried. In March, follow-up was preformed at Sumitomo Electrical Wiring. The layoffs affected 16 salaried and 131 hourly positions in Edmonton; 8 salaried and 37 hourly positions, in Scottsville. Sumitomo exclaims, “plant management felt it had no choice but to cut the employees after seeing slumping sales forecasts from their customers”