Officials work on aid for Indalex press fix

Girard will propose
lowering the company’s sewage costs.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — State, federal and local officials met Saturday in Niles and are now pledging to provide grants or loans to help the aluminum extruder Indalex Aluminum Solutions.

Indalex needs to repair an extrusion press blamed for the layoff of 47 workers, the officials explained.

At Wednesday’s county commissioners meeting, Arnie Clebone, regional economic director for the Ohio Department of Development, said the agency “should be able to make an offer” to Indalex for some type of help with the $185,000 equipment repair.

“We’re very concerned about the situation,” Clebone said.

After an announcement Sept. 10 of the first round of layoffs, Indalex said Sept. 19 that it would be laying off an additional 87 workers at its Girard plant in November because of a softening in the housing market for which it supplies building materials. The layoffs represent more than a third of the plant’s 365-employee workforce.

Commissioners approved legislation at the meeting directing the county’s planning commission to work with Clebone and representatives from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s office and others to provide assistance.

They also ordered the planning commission to evaluate whether Indalex can qualify for a low-interest loan of up to $200,000 through the county’s Revolving Loan Fund for the repair.

They also recommended that the planning commission establish an Economic Development Committee to recruit, retain and develop businesses and business opportunities.

About the meeting

Girard Mayor James Melfi said Saturday’s meeting at Vernon’s Cafe in Niles was called by Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, for the purpose of mobilizing all government resources available to the company.

Melfi said Indalex is the largest employer in Girard, accounting for $300,000 in income tax revenue per year. The loss of 134 jobs represents $70,000 in annual income tax revenue lost, he said, so it is important that the city do what it can to help Indalex.

He plans to ask Girard City Council on Monday to consider reducing Indalex’s sewer costs.

Kirk Davies, international staff representative for the United Steelworkers of America union, which represents workers in the company’s Girard and Niles plants, said company officials have said they are taking jobs from the Girard plant because it is an older plant with less efficiency than other facilities.

Indalex operates a plant in Niles, which employs 80, which a company official said hasn’t been affected by the housing slowdown because it provides extrusions for the transportation industry.

runyan@vindy.com