January 20, 2009

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. plans to close a textile plant in Barnwell County later this year, putting about 120 people out of work.

Milliken spokesman Richard Dillard told the Herald-Journal of Spartanburg that markets served by the 50-year-old plant in Barnwell will be shifted to other South Carolina facilities.

The company cited reduced demand for its products and increased overseas competition in the textile industry.

Dillard said layoffs will begin Thursday and some workers will be offered jobs at Milliken's more than two dozen other plants in the state.

The plant opened in 1955 and Milliken took it over in 1963.

Information from: Herald-Journal, http://www.goupstate.com/

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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News 12 has reported on this closing and also the planned closing of the Haneswear socks plant in Barnwell. Over 400 workers will be affected by that closing. The town of Barnwell could see a $650,000 loss in tax revenues due to the closings of these industries.