Marshall reeling from job losses

MARSHALL, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – As the holidays approach, a small West Michigan community finds itself losing jobs.

Two employers in Marshall are making big changes, and those changes are causing more than 100 people to lose their jobs.

On Wednesday, the Campbell's Soup plant is cutting production to a few months out of the year, and on Thursday we learned that a glass manufacturing company, AGC Flat Glass, is closing down completely. It has certainly been a rough week in Marshall.

“It was a really good company to work for, a lot of really good people worked there,' said Deborah Hollister.

Hollister is one of 28 employees who found out they were out of a job at AGC Flat Glass on Thursday.

“I guess really they had no choice, being Michigan and the economy here,” said Hollister.

While Hollister may understand why AGC is shutting down, it's also making an already challenging year that much harder.

“I lost my sister in May, and then my husband six weeks later,” said Hollister, “and six weeks later I lose my job so I don't know what to expect in the next six weeks.”

There are plenty of other people in Marshall who can relate to a piece of Hollister's struggles, with the Campell's Soup plant in Marshall switching over to making soup seasonally.

“Consumers are struggling to put food on the table, so a price premium product like a 'Soup at Hand' is a difficult choice to make in this economy,” said Beth Jolly of Campbell's USA.

The Marshall City Manager also says the even more jobs will soon be leaving the city.

“The Bostik Company is planning a closure in April,” said Tom Tarkiewicz.

Tarkiewicz says that will cost Marshall another 37 jobs.

“Watching the stories from around the area it's hard going that none of us like to see,” said Tarkiewicz.

There is however some good news, Tarkiewicz says the auto parts manufacturer Tenneco is in the process of adding four new lines and 74 jobs, and Johnson Systems Incorporated, which makes towers for wind turbines, is doing a quarter-million dollar expansion and creating 15 jobs.

For Hollister, she says she's using her severance package to get a fresh start.

“I don't know for sure yet, but I might go back to school,” said Hollister, “get some schooling and see what I can find.”