The Wiregrass area is feeling the effects of the global economic downturn.

Although new developments are bringing some jobs to the area, others continue to disappear.

WDHNs Scott Packard takes a look plant closures in the area and what some are calling a glimmer of hope.



General Electric, Tri-State Plant Food and today the PEMCO plant have all scaled back production and are facing the possibility of closing.

"Keeping our nose to the grindstone and trying to get through this period. I know it's tough for everybody," Dothan Area Chamber President Matt Parker said.

Tough for the Wiregrass. It was a few years ago the main source of employment in Abbeville closed its doors for good... taking about 600 jobs with it and throwing the small town into an economic catastrophe.

As Abbeville works to recover... jobs may be disappearing in the Circle City.

Last month the General Electric plant in Dothan announced its intent to shut down operations... doors closing that could impact 85 employees.

"A steady decline in our orders and more recently some more market instability. due to that continued decrease in demand and continued costs going up," the Dothan GE Plant Manager said.

then just last week, tri-state plant food announced it was stopping all production and liquidating its inventory.

Today, PEMCO says it's scaling back production...putting its future into question.

"We're still working very hard out there to preserve what we have with our existing industrial base and see what we can do to help those who may be more vulnerable to closures," Parker continued.

Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker says despite the closures, there is good news.

"Right now our area has been doing better than the state and national averages with our unemployment figures. Activity has been steady and some new activity that will be starting real soon."

Activity like in Cowarts where a manufacturing plant is being built.

And activity at Country Crossing... where hundreds of jobs are on the way.

"It's steady. If you have activity and you are building off of that it's a good thing. Your existing industrial bases are important so we are doing everything we can to preserve there," Parker said.

It's those bases that Parker believes will multiply into recovery.

"You're seeing a lot of change and I think that you will see some good things result from this downturn," Parker said.

Good things that many hope come sooner rather than later.



Parker adds there are several other signs of recovery in the Wiregrass like aviation work at both Fort Rucker and Dothan Regional Airport.

He says the Chattahoochee river is a good opportunity for industrial growth and those possibilities are currently be explored.