MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – We’re learning more about the possibly permanent impact that goes well beyond the 528 people who will soon lose their jobs at Manitowoc Company.
Paul Laurent owns Manitowoc Glass, one of the many companies that does business with Manitowoc Company.
Luckily, Laurent believes that partnership will continue despite Manitowoc Company moving its crane manufacturing to Pennsylvania.
“We will continue to ship them to Shady Grove. Other than that, that’s about all that part will affect us.”
The other part is a negative effect that Laurent has unfortunately experienced with big job loss announcements before.
“I was potentially going to do some things for some of those customers at their residence and same thing too, once it came around and they didn’t know that was all going to pan out, people kind of pulled back and people weren’t spending it”
Peter Wills, executive director of Progress Lakeshore, an economic development services provider reports there are about 120 companies in the Manitowoc area that do business with Manitowoc Company.
Wills says Manitowoc Company told him it will work with those vendors for at least another year.
“That may give us a year to really work with companies to determine they might be able to continue to supply to Manitowoc or be able to help them diversify their business to potentially offset some of the impact they may have”
Manitowoc Company has said it hopes to have its manufacturing operations fully moved to Pennsylvania by the middle of next year. The company’s headquarters and crane repair services will remain in Manitowoc.
Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels and Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbaur plan to issues statements today on what the next move might be for the area.
