Rantoul works as hard at economic development as any small city I've seen. Yet they can't seem to catch a break:
Collins & Aikman Corp. has notified employees at its Rantoul plants that the facilities could close in 60 days – even though Cadence Innovation has agreed to buy all three of them.
Collins & Aikman spokesman David Youngman confirmed Monday that all three plants in Rantoul are among the nine facilities Cadence plans to buy from Collins & Aikman.
But those plans are subject to approval by the bankruptcy court overseeing Collins & Aikman's case. The Southfield, Mich.-based auto parts supplier filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2005 and decided last fall it couldn't survive.
Collins & Aikman is Rantoul's largest employer. Village Administrator David Johnston said company officials recently told him 850 to 900 salaried and union employees remain on the company's rolls in Rantoul.
Ouch. Here's hoping that the closings and layoffs don't occur.
I know that many believe that free market forces should prevail,and that governent should stay out of the private sector. But, If there is anytime the federal and state government should step in and lend support to private industry, it is this situation brewing in Rantoul Rantoul simply will not be able to sustain the loss of alost one thousand jobs,,I do not care how much a person see's the glass as been half full. I admit, I do not know what,if anything our Congressman, State Senator,,or State Reps could do at this point to help. I think anything and everything within reason should be attempted.
Have you forgotten? Blago thinks that big business do not pay their share of taxes. I wouldn't be a bit surprise if they are closing because of the unfavorable climate that our democrate governor and his cronies have created. The mass exodus of big business and the jobs they create that sustain small towns have already began. Thanks Gov.
Anon,,,,,,you could be right,,,,,it certainly did not help matters,,which now makes me dubious that even if the new company buys the assets,they may close the Illinois plants just because of his policy. Where as if the climate was more friendly,,,,,they be inclined to keep them operating.
Anon, WV,
Blago has nothing to do with this. Collins and Aikman have been in financial straits for quite some time now. Their main customers were automakers with smaller product lines who were also struggling. They lost more than one product line. It would be great if Cadence can save the plants. They are a larger firm with bigger customers.
Rantoul still suffers from being a ONE company town, Chanute. If it were in another state there would have been assistance but Illinois towns, especially outside the Chicago area of influence suffers from neglect except maybe to construct prisons.
The Tribune picked up the story today.
Rantoul does seem to get the short end of the stick more often than other towns, which is unfortunate. By relying on Chanute as their breadwinner for so long, they didn't really encourage much other growth & development of their business sector, and that's still biting them in the ass to this day. They've made some remarkable strides in trying to bounce back as much as they can, but it looks like they're about to fall short again.