A greeting card manufacturer says it will close its plant in Nelson County early next year, laying off about 450 workers.
American Greetings Corporation recently lost a major contract which would have cut production at the Bardstown plant by nearly half. The company decided to close the central Kentucky plant and move that work to two other plants.
The Bardstown facility will stop production in February 2019. Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton calls it a terrible loss, but says the employment outlook is bright as other local companies expand or open new facilities.
"Within a year from now, I think the job opportunities are going to be pretty substantial for these people that have been displaced," Heaton told WKU Public Radio.
Heaton says existing distilleries are currently in a hiring mode, two new distilleries will open by summer, and a third one will break ground next month.
A Japanese package manufacturer will also break ground in April and hire nearly 190 workers. Heaton adds that an automotive plant that recently opened is planning to hire an additional 100 employees over the next year.
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