Pocono News Section

Wells Cargo to Close Facility in Carbondale

Wells Cargo to Close Facility in Carbondale - Friday, January 15, 2010 at 4:46PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Friday, Jan 15, 2010 @ 04:46pm EST
CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A well-known manufacturer in Lackawanna County is pulling out. Wells Cargo in Carbondale plans to close its facility at the end of next month.

The Universal Trailer Corporation, which bought Wells Cargo last year, has decided to move all of its operations to its site in McAdoo (Schuylkill County).

Right now, roughly 40 employees work at Wells Cargo. Officials say some of them will be offered jobs in Schuylkill County but others will be out of work.

Wells Cargo has been in Carbondale since 2001. Word of its closing has many in shock.

"I think it's very sad and I don't know what the people are going to do," Gloria Dunn of Carbondale said.

Workers at the facility were advised not to talk to the media Friday afternoon as they left the plant. Company officials in Ohio confirm the trailer manufacturer is closing because of economic reasons. The company only leases its building in Carbondale. It owns the one where things will be moved to in Schuylkill County.

Mayor Justin Taylor said he did everything he could to keep Wells Cargo in the Pioneer City.

"Taxes were actually a really big issue. Taxes in McAdoo are like half of what they are here in Carbondale, so unfortunately, that's a huge loss," Mayor Taylor said.

A huge loss that many people say is tough to hear.

"Anytime, anytime business closes around here it is, I mean, this could be a nice little town," Ann Maddage of Carbondale said.

A town that's been trying to revitalize its businesses and bring more into town over the last few years.

"The town, as you notice, we've just done our main streets and everything else. We're slowly trying to pull Carbondale back together," Connie Lasavage of Carbondale said.

Even though Wells Cargo won't close until the end of next month, Mayor Taylor says he's already working to bring another business into the site.

"It's a great building and it's really a good site, so again, we're still committing to put together a good package that will encourage somebody to come here," Mayor Taylor said.