Opp Plant Closing Doors In January; 135 Jobs To Be Lost
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: November 24, 2010
Some 135 employees at Opp’s Micolas Mill will be without a job in January.
Johnston Textiles, which owns the mill, announced Friday it would consolidate the weaving operation in Opp with its finishing operation in Phenix City, which is about 150 miles northeast toward the Georgia state line.
Whitehead said the mill will be downsized as the machinery is moved to Phenix City, but the entire plant should be closed by mid-January.
Opp Mayor H.D. Edgar said the city is unsure just how much of an economic impact losing the business will have.
“We certainly hate to see it close,” he said. “The economic impact to the city? We just don’t know how much that will be at the moment.”
Edgar said the city is currently working to find a replacement business for the mill.
Edgar said he plans to seek assistance from the state to help bring in more jobs.
