Connersville, Ind., Plant Announces Closure

A plant in Connersville, Ind., announced it is closing its doors, forcing more than 200 people in Wayne County to look for new jobs.

When the plant closes, nearly 1,000 people will lose their jobs. Officials said about 220 workers commute from Wayne County to Fayette County to work at Visteon.

The Visteon plant in Connersville makes radiator compressors and condensers for Ford. Once the plant closes its doors, 890 people will lose their jobs.

With more than 200 of the workers living in the Richmond, Ind., area, the economic impact is expected to be big.

Jim Dinkle who is CEO of Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County said, “It is my understanding that these were high-paying jobs people who have worked at the plant for more than 20-plus years."

NewsCenter 7 received a statement from officials with Visteon and they said they will no begin negotiations with their two unions. The job cuts will affect 750 hourly employees and 142 salaried workers.

Company officials said, “After a thorough review, we do not believe there is a viable business case to continue operating this plant.”

The announcement was made around 4 p.m. Thursday so officials said many aspects of the plant closing still need to be worked out.