Vermont Business Magazine Country Home Products, Inchas notified the state it will close its facility in Winooski byDecember 31, 2017, and will lay off 67 employees. Country Home Products manufactures, and direct-sells its own line of DR Power Equipment property-care machines, including mowers, trimmers, log splitters and cordless lawn mowers. It is based in Vergennes where it was formed in 1985and as of August 2015 is asubsidiary of Generac Power Systems, Inc. Generac makes backup power generation products based in Wisconsin. Generac said in a statement that it was consolidating manufacturing at a plant in Wisconsin.
Before the layoffs Country Home has 200 employees. CHP was named a VBM "Best Place to Work"earlier this year. Companies receive this designation based on company benefits and employee feedback.
Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement in response to the plant closing:
“Country Home Products informed us this week it would close its Winooski plant, with more than 60 layoffs planned by February 2018.
“Our Department of Labor (DOL) has begun actively working to provide its‘Rapid Response’services to affected employees. These services will assist with reemployment, andhelp identifypossible training opportunities. Further, our Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) will work with DOL to identify employers in need of workforce. I thank both the Agency and Department for its prompt response to support these workers.
“It is always disappointing and concerning when Vermonters lose jobs and Vermont sees the shuttering of any business or plant. We are encouraged Country Home Products will keep its Vergennes and Charlotte facilities open, and staff at those locations have not been impacted.
“This news is another reminder of our critical need to focus on the growing the economy and making Vermont more affordable so our businesses can thrive and we can offer greater opportunity for all Vermonters.”
On August 1, 2015, Generac acquired CHP for a purchase price, net of cash acquired, of $74.57 million. CHPreported to VBM revenues of between $50 million-$100 million in 2016.
Generac said in its statement that it will consolidate DR Power Equipment’s Winooskiassembly and distribution activities with operations in Jefferson, WI. The Winooski facility will close by the end of 2017and 67 employees will be affected.
“In today’s business climate, finding efficiencies and process improvements must be a critical part of our strategy,” said Matt Bieber, president of Country Home Products. “This move allows us to grow other core functions here in Vermont while moving manufacturing to a state-of-the-art facility, without any negative impacts on our customers.
“Employees who are affected will be eligible to apply for positions elsewhere in the company and severance compensation is being offered to ease their transition. We are thankful for the hard work all of our employees do every day, and we don’t make this move lightly. But we are confident that moving the manufacturing functions will allow us to grow our business even more in the future,”Bieber said. www.generac.com/about-us/careers. www.drpower.com/pages/content/company/careers/home
Generac Power Systems(NYSE: GNRC)is a leading global supplier of backup power and prime power products, systems and engine-powered tools. Foundedin 1959, Generac offers single engine backup and prime power systems up to [Anchor] 2 MW and paralleled solutions up to 100 MW, and uses a variety of fuel sources to support power needs for its customers. It was named Frost & Sullivan 2014 and 2015 North American Natural Gas Generator Set Company of the Year.VBM vermontbiz.com.
Source: Governor. Generac.com.VBM 6.9.2017