Another Monroeville Business Losing Jobs

Monroeville Monroe County Harrigan Lumber Company is letting more than 80 workers go.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, February 13, 2009 - 4:06 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, February 13, 2009 - 4:21 pm CST

They have a leprechaun for a logo, but workers at the Harrigan Lumber Company don't feel too lucky today.

“We've got employees that have dedicated a good portion of their lives to this company and we're dedicated to them to and we're going to do everything to get this place back up and running,” says company president Patrick Harrigan. He says a sluggish timber market is forcing him to lay off 87 workers. He says there will still be a small staff to keep the mill ready if and when things pick up. This is the latest in a number of blows to Monroe County's economy. 1

“Just piling more on top of what's already happened over the past year or so,” says Harrigan. Overall, Monroe County has been one of the places hardest hit by the economy. Georgia Pacific, Vanity Fair, and other companies have had major layoffs in the past few months. The bad economic news seems to keep piling up for Monroeville some are worried about the future of their hometown

“I'm afraid everyone’s going to move to find jobs and there's going to be nothing left here,” says Sandy Dunnavant. She’s the manager of the Mocking Bird Grill. She says the Harrigan news was the talk of the town during her breakfast rush.

“What are all these people going to do?” asks Sandy. “Where are they going to find jobs, where are they going to go, they going to stay here they going to move to find work?” At city hall, Mayor Mike Kennedy says the community is working on what he calls the Monroe County Recovery Plan to help displaced workers

“We want to identify the things we can do something about, pull the community together and just come out a better community,” says Kennedy. The mayor says they want to diversify the local economy so it's not as dependant on the health of the timber industry.

The city is holding a community assistance meeting on February 24th to help people who have been laid off. For more information you can call one of the following places:

Monroeville Chamber of Commerce 251-743-2880
Monroeville City Hall 251-575-2081
County Probate Office 251-743- 4107

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hollyb Says:

Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 8:07 am

I really hate this. The Harrigans are such nice and caring people. I know it just kills them to have to lay workers. But to the workers, you know what kind of people you work for, and you know as soon as they can, they will get you back!