MI Metals ‘idles’ plant
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor

Jenkins County’s shrinking workforce suffered another blow recently when M.I. Metals reduced its already skeleton crew to only three employees.

Corporate officials have informed remaining employees that the company was “idling” until the end of the first quarter of 2009 with hopes of starting up again at that time.

MI Metals escaped closure in October 2007 when two other MI plants, MI Windows and Doors and Capitol Architectural Products, closed, resulting in the loss of approximately 200 jobs, 75 percent of which were held by local citizens.

MI Metals employed approximately 60 persons at the time but has been steadily reducing employment since the closure of the other two facilities.

MI Windows and Doors began operations in Millen in 1990 with the purchase of the former Remington facility. The two additional plants were later added.