U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 08 – 09 October 2014: “…the landlord has made the decision to sell…”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: In Spanish Fort, after four years Tacky Jacks restaurant shutdown. The owners say their restaurant needs improvements which they can’t afford.

California: In Davis, eight years old Marrone Bio Innovations announced the elimination of about 35 jobs, blaming crashing sales and a “shareholder revolt”.   In Canoga park, Too Big to Jail Bank of America warned it will layoff 57 people in December.

Florida: Jacksonville based grocery store operator Bi-Lo announced they are shutting down 23 Bi-Lo and Winn Dixie stores by November. That includes the stores in Alabama (mentioned above) and stores in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. At least 1-thousand food jobs lost! It’s blamed on Bi-Lo’s takeover of Winn-Dixie and Delhaize America grocery stores.

Indiana: Miami County approved the termination of 11 jobs, and reduce five full time jobs to part time.  County officials are expecting a $2-million USD tax revenue decrease by 2016!

Kentucky:  Huntington Bank shutting down two offices in December.

Michigan: Administrators with Hiller’s grocery stores warned their unionized employees that “severe financial problems” could lead to hundreds of layoffs if a new contract isn’t agreed to. Hiller’s administrators directly blamed skyrocketing Obama Care insurance costs as a major contributor to their “severe financial problems”!

Missouri: Asset manager DST Systems announced it will kill off 150 jobs in Missouri, Connecticut and India!

New York: The city of Lockport eliminated nine jobs without warning.  City administrators say they must borrow $4.6-million to stay alive!  In Rochester, Eastman Kodak announced more layoffs, this time 71 people to become unemployed in December.  In NYC, healthcare provider SinglePoint Care Network warned they will shutdown in January 2015, at least 22 jobs lost.  In Buffalo, food processor Zemco announced they are shutting down in January 2015,  at least 287 jobs lost! In Ronkonkoma, Bay Shore and Coram Suffolk Bus warned their contracts expire in January 2015, putting 508 jobs in limbo!

North Carolina: In Statesville, JR Cigar announced it will shutdown in December, 77 jobs lost.  The property owners are planning to “redevelop” the land.

Ohio: In Lorain, Republic Steel revealed they had laid off 105 employees back in September!  In Canton, a local newspaper reported that Republic Steel laid off more than 100 employees between August and October!  Company administrators blame competition from foreign steel makers, whom they claim are ‘dumping’ steel on the U.S. market.

Pennsylvania: The Bon-Ton announced it will shutdown a store in Pennsylvania and a store in West Virginia, by January 2015, at least 77 jobs lost.  Company administrators blame crashing sales.

Texas: What housing market recovery?  In Plano, Too Big to Jail Bank of America announced it is downsizing its Home Loan Originations units, and killing off 187 jobs in November!  In Houston, after 10 years Spring Branch Health Care Center shutting down: “The facility is being closed as the landlord has made the decision to sell the property to a third party.”-company statement

Wisconsin: Troubled Manitowoc Ice announced even more layoffs, this time 160 people will become unemployed between December 2014 and March 2015!  Back in March 2014 company administrators said they were shifting production of new ice machines to Mexico.  Tax sucking military truck maker Oshkosh announced it is laying off as many as 370 people!  Company administrators proudly stated that despite the reduction in sales “We’re still the number one global manufacturer of tactical wheeled vehicles for the military”.

04-07 October 2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.