MI Windows and Doors to close
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

MI Windows and Doors announced Monday plans to close its two Millen window fabrication plants, MI Windows and Doors and Capitol Architectural Products, effective Dec. 28. MI has operated in Millen since 1990. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

MI Windows and Doors will close its two Millen window fabrication plants Dec. 28 resulting in the loss of approximately 200 jobs, 75 percent of which are held by local residents. The plants affected include MI Windows and Doors and Capitol Architectural Products, located in the Millen Industrial Park. The announcement was made Monday by Matt DeSoto, president, Eastern Division of MI Windows and Doors.

"Our decision to close the Millen facilities has been extremely difficult. Any time we affect team members and their families by eliminating jobs, it comes with much concern and anxiety. The decision is not a reflection of how our team in Millen has performed; rather a necessary reaction due to the current downtrend in new home construction," DeSoto said.

The closing of the facilities will occur in phases with complete shut down to be effective Dec. 28. Several smaller layoffs of 15-20 employees have previously occurred at the plants. The previous and expected job losses at MI, combined with job losses at Jockey International and Cavalier Home Builders, will mean that approximately 60 percent of Jenkins County's industrial workforce of 1,025 will be unemployed when the MI plants close Dec. 28.

MI active full-time employees and employees on approved leaves of absence will receive regular pay through Dec. 28 on regularly scheduled pay dates. Employees will also receive pay for unused vacation pay and accumulated sick pay for 2007. Health insurance coverage will be extended through Dec. 31, after which employees may elect to continue coverage through COBRA.

MI began operations in Millen in 1990 with the purchase of the former Remington facility. Two additional plants were later added, MI Metals and Capitol Architectural Products. MI officials have indicated that MI Metals will remain open with approximately 60 persons employed at the facility.