Community in Crisis

The announcement this week that MI Windows and Doors will close its two Millen window fabrication plants is beyond comprehension for a community already in the grips of a financial crisis. MI Windows and Doors and Capitol Architectural Products will close Dec. 28 resulting in the loss of 200 jobs, 75 percent of which are held by local citizens.

This community has already suffered tremendous job losses with the closure of Jockey International last year and a recent layoff at Cavalier Home Builders. The additional loss of jobs at MI will mean that almost 60 percent of the county's industrial workforce will be unemployed. Never in recent years has Jenkins County and Millen faced such a devastating crisis!

A community without job opportunities for its citizens is a dying community. We MUST bring new industry to Jenkins County and Millen, and we must do it as soon as possible. Our city, county, chamber of commerce, industrial development authority, hospital, schools, churches, civic organizations and entire citizenry must

work together to breathe new life into this community. If not, we will all be responsible for putting the final nail in its coffin!