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Our New Schools(3/03)
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Road to recovery(1/02)
EZ Grout prepares for growth by nearly doubling size of facility
EZ Grout Corporation took time during the slowed economy over the winter
to nearly double the size of its manufacturing facility in rural Morgan
County. The expansion was much needed, although the original facility
was less than three years old, according to the company.
"It's important to us to prepare for growth ahead of the curve. We expanded to remain efficient and house the new manufacturing equipment we purchased toward the end of 2002," Damian Lang, president of EZ Grout Corporation, stated. "The products we have added for mason contractors in the last year alone, like the Mud Hog™ hydraulic mixing station, Buck Hog™ scaffold rack, Hog Cart™, and Block Hog™ forklift will benefit from more efficient processes. In order to anticipate the various needs of the industry and continue with research and development, more space was definitely an issue."
EZ Grout held its first open house for select vendors May 16 in the expanded facility.
Lang reports this expansion project is now complete. The labor force has already been increased to gear up for the increased demands of manufacturing for the national and international masonry markets.
EZ Grout currently employs 18 people at its facility in Morgan County.
For information on EZ Grout or any of the products offered, feel free to contact Dan McCutcheon or Roll Cox at 1-800-417-9272 or visit www.ezgrout.com.
Originally published
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Morgan County
Herald
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Malta Wood Windows produces first order for local customer
Malta Wood Windows, Inc. is reopened. After being closed for two years, the company has been reopened by five former employees and another investor. The group has purchased the Malta Trademark and the Classic View Trademark and is producing the same great window that customers have been accustomed to.
Among the five former employees, over 125 years of combined window making experience is in place. The group said it is dedicated to bringing a quality product at a reasonable price.
The product being offered will be limited to two colors for now, but they are in the process of making all colors and options available. At the present time, Primed Wood Double Hung, Vinyl Clad Wood Double Hung, Primed Wood Casement, Vinyl Clad Casement, and Aluminum Clad Casements are available.
The clad units are available in white and clay beige. The company will offer patio doors and architectural windows also, but with an extended lead time. These are available in a variety of different colors.
Literature samples are available. Standard product would be available for shipment in 10-12 working days.
Owners are: James C. Barbour, 17 years of experience with Philips products; Margarett Foley, Morgan County resident dedicated to making Morgan County a better place to live; George H. Makatura, 16 years of experience with Philips products; Terry McGrath, 31 years of experience with Philips products; Susan L. Muth, 25 years with Philips products; and David C. Shaner Jr., 29 years of experience with Philips products.
Delivery of the first window sale for the company took place recently. Delmar Niceswanger, Morgan County resident, purchased replacement windows for his home. This begins a new era of window making Malta. Continuously from 1889 to 2001, windows were made in this small southeastern Ohio community.
After a two-year absence, once again the tradition has started. The new company, Malta Wood Windows, Inc., has joined Draper, Inc., and Call Center, LLC in the facility. Additional space is available by contacting OSU Extension Agent, Jeff Shaner at 740-962-4854.
Originally published Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Morgan County
Herald
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New Malta Window offers first products
by Brian Gadd
TR Staff Writer
MALTA - It's a small step, to be sure.
But in Morgan County, where unemployment rates are hovering near 18 percent, it's an encouraging sign.
Malta Wood Windows, which opened in March in the Morgan Partnership Growth Complex, delivered its first production run of windows on Thursday evening.
Five employees, all stakeholders in the venture, are a far cry from the more than 250 who were employed before Phillips Products closed the plant down in the spring of 2001 after an employee strike.
But the lack of numbers is seen as a strength of the reborn company.
"We want to stay small, work with hometown lumber yards, build a local customer base," said David Shaner Jr., president and CEO. Shaner has 29 years of experience with Malta Windows. "We believe if you start out big, you are doomed to fail. So all of us will be wearing a multitude of hats."
Shaner said he and his partners -- James Barbour, George Makatura, Terry McGrath and Susan Muth -- hope to add six to 10 more positions within a year and expand their product line. Morgan County resident Margarett Foley is also an investor in the company.
"We're currently limiting our options -- we have a couple of different kinds of windows and colors -- until we build up," she said.
Barbour and Makatura have taken on the window-making duties and are beginning to produce stock. The first samples were complete April 29 and there are currently between 50 to 60 windows in stock.
"I've been guarding them with my life," joked Muth, the company's chief financial officer, about the samples. "I keep them right here by my desk. They are the first. They won't be the last."
Makatura, with 16 years of experience, said he and Barbour, a 17-year veteran, have taken the time to perfect their trade.
"It's stuff we didn't have time to do before," he said. "We know how to make these windows and we can make them better."
"We're very proud of them. They say down and went over the process," added Terry McGrath who boasts the most experience -- 31 years -- of all of the partners. " And I know they will make improvements over time, because they have pride in the product. I think we all do."
Shaner also said Malta Windows will remain an assembly operation for the forseeable future, eschewing the expensive capital purchases in equipment which can make or break a small company.
"We wanted to address the biggest issue in Morgan County -- employment," he said. "But we also didn't want to see this company fade away."
"We've had 112 years of history. It's too much history to just see it die," added Muth. "Now we're adding another chapter."
Originally published Saturday, May 10, 2003
Times
Recorder
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Scrap tire business bringing part of work to Malta complex
Morgan Partnership Growth Complex has added another tenant to the ever-growing number of businesses occupying the site in Malta owned by the Morgan County Improvement Corporation (CIC).
According to Jeff Shaner, OSU Extension agent, Community Development, David Campbell will bring a portion of his business, Campbell's Scrap Tires, to Malta.
He urged people to not be concerned. Campbell will not bring old tires to the complex. What he will bring are shreds of old tires. The old tires will be Shredded in Zanesville at his facility in the old Gibson Meat Packing building, and he will bring the shreds to Malta.
He will then process the shreds with a machine which will cost in the neighborhood of $450,000. The machine will separate the wire from the rubber and recycle the tires. Campbell will be able to refine the rubber further with the new machine. The product will then be bagged up and shipped out to become landscaping material for use around playground equipment or for use around home foundations. The material can also be incorporated into asphalt.
The operation is expected to be up and running in Malta be the first of June, and will initially mean up to seven jobs to start.
Campbell's Scrap Tires will join Call Center LLC, Draper Industries, and Malta Wood Windows in the Morgan Partnership Growth Complex.
Originally published
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Morgan County
Herald
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Our New Schools
This year Morgan County elementary and junior high students attended brand new school buildings. The voters of Morgan County passed a bond issue in November 1999 to combine their money with Ohio School Facilities money to build new schools. The State provided 74% of the funds and Morgan County residents provided 26%.
Six out-of-date, unsafe, and educationally inadequate buildings were abandoned and replace with four modern, state-of-the-art educational facilities. For the first time in many, many years, Morgan County students attend educational facilities as good as any in the State of Ohio. Elsewhere in this issue of The Morgan Reader you will find articles written by children about the importance of the new buildings to them. The residents of Morgan County need to feel proud that they have made this significant contribution to the education of their children.
Originally published
March 2003
The Morgan Reader
Zanesville scrap tire firm expanding its operation into Morgan County
by Brian Gadd
TR Staff Writer
MALTA --- A Zanesville company which disposed of old tires by turning them into usable material for playgrounds and asphalt mixtures is expanding its operations into Morgan County.
Mike Vynalek, president of the Morgan Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), said a lease has been signed by Campbell' s Scrap Tires to occupy one of the buildings at the Morgan Growth Partnership Complex in Malta.
"It only means five to seven jobs to start, but that could go up as they expand in the future," he said.
Owner Dave Campbell said he would like to keep his main operation in South Zanesville, at the old Gibson Meat packing building, but isn't ruling out pulling up stakes.
"The cost is about half or less of what we are paying for space up here," Campbell said. "We're happy to be at home. We would rather stay here. But that could change in the next in two to three years. And those folks (in Morgan County) have been really willing to work with us."
The company is investing $450,000 in machinery, and the lease agreement specified all tire product will be housed inside the 14,000-square-foot building. The operation is expected to be up and running by June 1.
"They have a shredding machine, and the material can later be turned into asphalt or for other uses," Vynalek explained. "One of our requirements was for all materials to be kept indoors. So we won't have unsightly piles of tires."
Campbell said the South Zanesville operation takes tires and shreds them into a manageable size. The product will then be shipped to the Malta operation for further processing. A shredding machine has been purchased with the help of Unizan Bank.
"The machine there will take it down to other sizes, clean it, get the metal out of it," he said. "It basically makes it usable again. It pulls out the metal and cuts the rubber into various size chips for different needs."
The bulk of Campbell's product is taken to Brownsville Waste Management Landfill, where it is used as a drainage layer. The chipped rubber can also be used as backfill around home foundations and for leech beds, instead of rock and dirt; playground material; and for asphalt, Campbell said.
"We haven't got into the asphalt yet, because there isn't a need for it around here," he said. "But our goal is to make this profitable."
Vynalek added that the CIC has opened bids for the demolition of the older buildings at the
MPGC, which should take place within the next two to three weeks. Also, roofs and gutters will be repaired and the sprinkler system in all of the buildings will be replaced.
"That should be done in the next 45 days or so," he said.
Jeff Shaner, economic development specialist with OSU Extension in Morgan County and with the CIC as well, said he met with building architects this week and Capital Fire about the fire suppression system.
"We're not where we would like, we've still got some work to do," Shaner said.
The CIC has welcomed Malta Wood Windows, Draper Industries, Call Center LLC and now Campbell's into the fold, Shaner added. But the work to inject life into Morgan County economy is far from over.
"We've had a couple of inquiries at the state level, people looking
to see what we have to offer," Vynalek said. "There was one
'blind' (anonymous) inquiry looking for 10,000-12,000-square-feet of
space. They are looking at both Morgan and Noble counties as possible
locations. We should know something in the next two to three months."
Originally published
April 18, 2003
Times
Recorder
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Wood window company first tenant -
CIC names Morgan Partnership Growth Complex
by Sarah Hurst
Malta will once be home to a wood window company following the official announcement last Friday afternoon at the former Malta Windows plant located in upper Malta.
WIN.DOR.TEK Inc. of Cleveland will be the first tenant in the newly named Morgan Partnership Growth Complex. The window company has leased 30,000 square feet of the 565,000 square feet of available space in the complex. The Morgan County Community Improvement Corporation purchased the site for an industrial park.
Stan Dickinson, president of the window manufacturer, said he has received about 150 resumes. He said he will start out with only six employees, with the hopes of employing many more in the future at the Malta location.
"We hope to bring in more, but we have to start slowly," he said. "We don't have the resources to start out right out the way we would like."
Dickinson went on to say, "You can get buildings any place, but the people who make wood windows are here. We have glass equipment in, and we are looking to lease some more equipment. We are excited about coming to Malta."
Prior to the announcement of the first tenant to occupy space in the newly named complex, Bruce Johnson, director of the Ohio Department of Development, served as keynote speaker and presented a representative giant check for $1,150,000 to representatives of the Morgan County Community Improvement Corporation (MCCIC) as they unannounced the purchase of the Malta Windows plant.
Making up the $1,150,000 is a $750,000 Rural Industrial Park loan; a $200,000 Business Development grant; and a $200,000 Appalachian Regional Commission State Discretionary grant.
Following his introduction by Joy Padgett, director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia, Johnson told those gathered in the street in front of the new complex, "We are proud to do this. Unless the board of directors had not given us some of the tools they did, we could not have done this."
He recognized State Senator Jim Carnes and State Representative Nancy Hollister for giving them tools.
"I am proud of a community that did not put its head in the sand, but has created good job opportunities for the future. Governor Taft is excited about this, and we are excited there will be new opportunities in this fine facility," Johnson said.
Jeff Shaner, OSU Extension agent, community development, talked about what has taken place in the last nine or 10 months leading up to Friday.
"Early last year, 250 Morgan County People were put out of work. We began at that time to get this facility reoccupied, utilized, and our people put back to work. We worked with Representative Hollister and her office. We thought another company could come in. That did not happen. We wanted to be the controller of our destiny," Shaner said.
"Since June 27, we have been in the process to get to today," Shaner continued.
Mike Vynlek, in his third year as president of the Morgan County CIC, mentioned the members of the group, which meets for lunch on the second Wednesday of each months at the River Queen in Malta.
On the CIC, in addition to Vynlek, are Ed Haines, vice president; Alice McElfresh, secretary; John Wilson, treasurer; Ron Moore, Carl Dodrill Jr., Bruce Dozer, Gary Woodward, Brenda James, Bill Allen, Kim Reed, and Phil Barkhurst.
He said Bill Costello had resigned recently because of his health.
"Bill played an important part in the CIC to get it where it is today," Vynalek said. "The CIC worked closely with the county. Without the county, we could not have done this. We are part of county government, and it did back us up on this project."
"The CIC partnered with the Village of Malta. We had a little EPA situation with one of the wells. Without the county and the State of Ohio, we would not have been able to do this. We didn't have enough income to generate a loan," Vynalek explained.
He thanked Burl Lemon of SignPro for quickly getting the new sign ready for unveiling on Friday. He also thanked Sarah Lynn of the law firm of Arter and Hadden for representing the CIC in dealing with Philips and Thompkins Industries.
Vynalek then introduced Joy Padgett, director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia, who commented, "Partnerships are alive here. What has happened today is good, and I praise all of you for doing this."
State Representative Nancy Hollister spoke.
"For the last 10 years I have been coming here, when I would leave, I felt the end result would not be positive. Then 13 months ago, decisions were made to create this empty space," she said. "I received a letter from a man and wife who worked for over 25 years for Malta, and how they loved this area."
"It takes team work, with the CIC, Mike Jacoby, the county commissioners, and the Village of Malta. It takes a different type of energy for getting things done," Rep. Hollister said.
She praised Jeff Shaner.
"He never let it drop. No matter what obstacle would come up, he would go forward. 'We are going to get this done' he would say. And what brings us to today," Rep. Hollister concluded.
State Senator Jim Carnes offered input.
"You do have great leadership with Nancy and Joy Padgett. It is so important," he said.
Sen. Carnes recalled that he was in Malta eight years ago with Bruce Johnson when he was president pro tem of the Ohio Senate.
Carnes concluded, "Keep up the good work, and that sun will continue to shine."
Following the unveiling of the large blue and white sign indicating the facility is now known as the Morgan Partnership Growth Complex, Shaner thanked his brother, David, as well as Amy Grove, Pam Montgomery, and Jenny Lindimore of the Extension Office. He also recognized Myra Moss, district specialist, Community Development, OSU Extension, East District Office, and Bill Grunkemeyer, program leader, State Community Development Office, as well as Lou Fourman, East District director, OSU Extension, for being present on Friday.
Malta Mayor Phil Barkhurst was elated over the prospect of the newly purchased complex.
"I am just so glad it went through. I think everything will be all right now. We are on the way back," the mayor declared.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies, refreshments were served in one of the large areas of the new Morgan Partnership Growth Complex.
Originally published
Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Morgan County
Herald
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Window manufacturing jobs returning
to Malta-
State comes through with $1.5 million investment
by Brian Gadd
TR Staff Writer
Malta --- The old Malta Windows manufacturing campus has its first new tenant. And local officials received some generous help from the State of Ohio to make it happen.
Win-Dor-Tek, a Cleveland-based maker of historical replacement windows, will only employ a staff of six to start. But company owner Stan Dickinson has plans to increase his work force to the 150 to 200 range be this time next year.
"We hope to be up to speed and I look for us to be able to hire back as many of the Malta Windows employees as possible," Dickinson said. "It was an absolute shame it had to close in the first place. To close it over someone making more money ... those are the wrong reasons to put people out on the streets."
He noted that he has already shut down his Cleveland operation, and will use the factory, located in The Flats, as a service center or move that operation to Malta as well. He will also be relocating to the Malta area.
Dickinson's announcement topped off an exciting day in Malta as the Morgan County Community Improvement Corp. unveiled a new sign at the plant's entrance and collected a check for $1.15 million from state development director Bruce Johnson.
"I think the name Morgan Partnership Growth Complex symbolizes all of the partnerships which are a part of making this happen," said Jeff Shaner, county economic development specialist with Ohio State University Extension.
One of the partners in the deal Johnson, who noted the state's financial commitment to Morgan County was unprecedented. Johnson was introduced by Joy Padgett, director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia.
"The governor himself wanted me here today to let you know we want to be an integral part of this community," Johnson said. "And I have to recognize the fine partnerships being built here between the Village of Malta, and the county, the CIC and the state."
The $1.5 million includes a $750,000 Rural Industrial Park Loan, a $200,000 Business Development grant and a $200,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Some of the money will be used for construction of a new building and for renovations to other buildings on the site.
The CIC has been working for the better part of a year - since Philips Products closed the plant last spring and left 250 people out on the streets - to purchase the plant to market as a potential industrial park.
It was a dire sign for a county which regularly tops the state's unemployment rates. In February, Morgan County led the state with 16.2-percent of its nearly 15,000 residents out of work.
But as Shaner said, development of the county's newest industrial park and aggressive marketing of the site should help put a dent in that figure.
"We're tired of hearing how high the unemployment rate is," said Shaner. "We want to get that rate off the top spot and down toward the bottom. That's where we want to be."
Johnson added that he was proud of how officials in the Malta-McConnelsville area didn't let the loss of Malta Windows chip away at their resolve.
"You didn't hunker down, pull up tents and leave," Johnson said. "You put your minds to the test and worked together to create a good opportunity for employment in your community."
Rep. Nancy Hollister, a Marietta Republican, also talked about how teamwork brought the Morgan County CIC to this point.
"It's a commitment from the village, from the commissioner and ultimately from the people," she said. "Folks can dream dreams and want things to happen, but it takes commitment. Morgan County you done good."
Some long-time employees at the plant are already preparing for Win-Dor-Tek's start-up in about three weeks.
"I'm just thrilled about it," said Connie Bailey of McConnelsville, who worked at the plant for 15 years. "I'm glad Stan is coming here. I've lived here for 19 years, and I just love it here. I didn't want to leave. And now it doesn't look like I will have to."
George Makatura and Dave Shaner, who worked for 15 and 29 years, respectively, at the plant, have been volunteering their time to get the shop floor ready.
"It's an industry we know, so we are glad to be back to work," said Shaner.
Makatura agreed.
"It seems like there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. The last year's been tough," he said.
Jeff Shaner added that there are one or two possible tenants waiting in the wings and further announcements could be made in the coming weeks.
"I would say we are in the final part of negotiations, maybe a week, 10 days to 2 weeks from announcing them," he said.
Originally published
Saturday, March 16, 2002
Times
Recorder
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State grant, loan to aid with industrial park
The State Controlling Board has released $200,000 in state funding and approved a low-interest loan in the amount of $750,000 to help get an industrial park in Morgan County, according to information form State Senator Jim Carnes, State Representative Nancy Hollister, and Governor Bob Taft.
This will allow the Morgan County Improvement Corporation (MCIC) to convert the former Malta Windows facility into an industrial park, with hopes of attracting new business and jobs to the area.
The Malta facility, previously used for the manufacture of windows, consists of 10 buildings, including an office building. With state funding and their own investment, MCIC will be able to acquire and renovate the property. Upon completion of the renovations, MCIC plans to lease these facilities to multiple businesses.
"When the Malta facility closed in February of last year, Morgan County lost its single largest employer. It was devastating to the community and to the many residents employed there," Sen. Carnes said. "By converting the site, MCIC hopes to bring the facility back to life to replace many of the jobs that were lost."
Gov. Taft said, "It is expected the new industrial park will enable the MCIC to recruit larger employers to this Appalachian community, which has the highest unemployment rate in Ohio."
"Economic Development Director Jeff Shaner and the Morgan County Commissioners are to be congratulated for their continuing efforts to reuse the former Malta Windows site," commented Rep. Hollister. "The renovation and use of this manufacturing facility is important to the local community and Morgan County, as we continue the ongoing effort to offer employment opportunity."
The $200,000 has been made available through a state Appalachian Regional Commission grant, and the state Rural Industrial Park Loan Program has made the $750,000 loan possible. The terms of the loan include a five-year deferment and a low, fixed interest rate of 3.25 percent to allow MCIC some time to get the park up and running.
In order to focus on the importance of job creation in the area, the state has also provided a stipulation that for every full-time permanent position created within three years of funding the loan, a portion of the loan will be forgiven up to $300,000.
Carnes noted that this project is also eligible for a $200,000 Ohio Department of Development Business Development Grant, bringing the state's total investment in the project to nearly $1.2 million. In addition to state funding. MCIC will invest more than $1.3 million to the effort.
Originally published
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Morgan County
Herald
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Road to recovery
by Paul Souhrada
Dispatch Staff Reporter
Malta, Ohio --- In Morgan County, where jobs are as hard to find as a flat piece of ground, no one was surprised last year when Malta Windows & Doors shut down, leaving more than 240 people out of work.
It was the latest disappointment in a county where economic-development officials would do handstands to get the unemployment rate down to the single digits. At about the time the plant closed, the national economy slipped into a recession.
It stood to reason that Appalachia would be hit hardest. However, officials see glimmers of hope throughout Ohio's Appalachian region, which encompasses 29 counties stretching from just south of Youngstown to the Cincinnati suburbs.
The news from Malta Windows and Rocky Shoes & Boots, which moved its manufacturing plant from Nelsonville to Puerto Rico in November, seems to have been offset be expansions and the opening of new plants elsewhere.
The Morgan County Improvement Corp., the economic development are of the county commissioners, is working to convert the former Malta complex into an industrial park. The group says it is negotiating with companies and hopes that the first tenant will move into the facility about 65 miles southeast of Columbus by early March.
Other signs of recovery include:
* The Liebert Corp,. a manufacturer of high-tech cooling and environmental-control
equipment, announcing plans this month to add 18 employees at its expanded
plant in Ironton.
* Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel this month receiving state grants and loans toward a $10 million project that the company says will keep more than 1,500 jobs in Mingo Junction.
* A Wendy's subsidiary last month opening a $22 million bakery in Zanesville.
* Duke Energy building a $600 million electricity-generating plant near Ironton, a project that promises 30 full-time jobs when it begins operating next year.
After six months of negotiation, the county improvement corporation bought the 13-acre Malta site from Philips Products of Elkhart, Ind., using $750,000 from the state's rural industrial-park loan program, a pair of $200,000 grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Ohio Department of Development and $177,000 from the county improvement corporation.
Michael Vynalek, president of the improvement corporation, anticipates one tenant will be ready to move in once the deal is closed in early March. Another could follow three or four months later.
Vynalek said the first company, a telephone call center that would occupy the former Malta Windows office building, likely will hire 15 to 25 workers. The second company, a small manufacturer interested in a 33,000-square-foot building, has plans to hire 40 employees.
Those aren't huge numbers, but a little work goes a long way in Morgan County, said Jeff Shaner, an Ohio State University extension agent who also is economic development director in the county.
Morgan County, which has fewer than 15,000 residents, has a work force of 6,000, Shaner said, noting that a few dozen jobs lost or created can have an impact on the unemployment rate that stood at 12.6 percent in December.
Joy Padgett, director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia, likes what she sees in Morgan County and elsewhere in the region.
"Upbeat might be too much, but there's a sense that jobs are being created," she said.
"Maybe it's the lower interest rates that are making the moves more feasible," Padgett suggested. "It could be coincidence, but things just don't seem as dreary as in past economic downturns," she said.
"We're not suffering the layoffs they are in Columbus and Cleveland," she said. "Two and a half years ago it was a much less optimistic region."
In December, 14 of Ohio's Appalachian counties had a lower unemployment rate than in December 2000, 14 had a higher rate, and Athens County, with its stable base of Ohio University jobs, was unchanged. Five counties --- Athens, Belmont, Clermont, Holmes and Washington --- were below the state average of 4.0 percent.
Greg Bischak, senior economist with the Appalachian Regional Commission in Washington, charted job creation throughout the Appalachian region that covers all or parts of 13 states from southern New York to eastern Mississippi and concluded that things seem to be looking up.
The region, he said, was hit much harder than the rest of the nation during recessions of 1974-75 and 1981-83. Coal mines and manufacturers were hit hardest. The recession of 1991-92, by comparison, was relatively mild for both the region and the nation, Bischak said. And the current recession, which some economists think the country already is recovering from, looks more like the last one than the two previous ones, he said.
"It doesn't look like it's going to have as dramatic an impact as some had predicted," Bischak said.
All of that is little comfort to former Malta employees such as 48-year-old Walter Dalzell, a machinist who worked 25 years with the company.
"I've only worked 13 days since Feb.1," he said.
That's how long it was before he was laid off from his new job ---
a machinist's position that took him
8 1/2 months to find, paid $2 less an hour and was a 42-mile commute
from his home in Crooksville.
Terry McGrath the former plant superintendent, hasn't found a permanent job after 31 years with Malta.
"It's been kind of rough," McGrath said. " I have had part-time jobs but nothing steady."
Former Malta workers have the most at stake in the transformation of their former workplace, now a sprawling complex of concrete-block and steel-sided buildings.
"I think, at least, there is a sense that something is being done and that someone is trying," said George Makatura, a former production supervisor who started at Malta three days after graduating from high school and put in 15 years before the plant closed in February.
At its peak, Malta Windows was the country's largest private employer with more than 600 workers. Shaner, a lifelong Morgan County resident whose hilltop home across the Muskingum River in McConneslville overlooks the Malta plant, wants those jobs back.
Standing in the empty expanse of the plant's largest building, one big enough to engulf nearly three football fields, Shaner concedes any new jobs won't be the same kind Malta provided.
But they might be enough to keep home some of the 2,000 Morgan County residents who commute to jobs in Columbus, Marietta, Zanesville and elsewhere, he said.
"We can kind of take our destiny in our own hands," Shaner said. "It's a risk, but it's one worth taking."
Originally published
January 27, 2002
Columbus Dispatch
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