Whitmire's Renfro to close

One of the biggest employers in the county and the only plant in Whitmire told workers today that it's closing.

Renfro sent out a letter to employees stating it will be "closing manufacturing operations at the Whitmire plant effective Jan. 30, 2009."

The letter goes on to state that plant officials will work with employees to discuss details of the closure.

The announcement is a hard blow for Whitmire officials and store owners Michael Thomas and Edgar Baker.

Both say the closure will be detrimental to the town and their businesses.

"This is the worst thing that could hit the town," said Baker, who owns Baker and Son Hardware and represents the area on County Council.

Mayor Tim Carroll says the company employs 570 people and 40 percent of them live in the town.

Renfro is also the largest water user on the town's system.

The effects of the closure could result in the town revising its budget and even laying off employees.

Town and county officials are working to help the employees find local jobs and to recruit a new business to buy the facility.

Carroll says he has already contacted the state Department of Commerce asking them to list the property and show it to potential employers.

Renfro was founded in 1921, according to the company's Web site. The company employs more than 4,500 people worldwide and has plants in South and North Carolina, Alabama, India, Turkey, Pakistan and Mexico.