The Millen plant of Cavalier Home Builders is slated for closure, resulting in the loss of 104 full time jobs. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Jenkins County will soon lose its last major industry. The announcement was made Friday, Aug. 28, that the local mobile home manufacturing plant of Cavalier Home Builders will be permanently closed, resulting in the loss of approximately 104 full time jobs.

The shutdown has already begun and will continue through Oct. 26, according to information provided to the Georgia Department of Labor (DOL). Because the company did not give the DOL the required 60 days notice of the shutdown, the workers will be given 60 days severance pay in accordance with the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

A statement released by Bobby Tesney, Cavalier chief executive officer, indicates that the Millen plant may be the only Cavalier facility being closed. Cavalier also op- erates plants in other states.

Tesney commented, "We appreciate the support that our team members and retailers have provided over the years and value their continued business. Accordingly our sales teams will be working together to offer options for providing products from other company facilities. We will continue to build homes for the market by offering sales from other facilities."

Tesney attributed the closure of the Millen plant to "the continuing challenges in the housing market and related economic conditions."

Cavalier Home Builders announced June 15, that it had agreed to be bought by Southern Energy (SE) Homes, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayton Homes, spurring hopes that the local plant would receive a "shot in the arm" and continue its operations. Friday's announcement put an end to any speculation as to the fate of the plant and its employees.

The local mobile home plant has been in operation in Millen, under different ownerships, since 1967. Cavalier, home-based in Alabama, began operations in Millen in 1997 when it merged with Belmont Homes, which had recently purchased the local Bellcrest Homes plant. The local plant is the state's oldest continually operated manufactured housing facility.

The loss of jobs resulting from the closure is expected to push the county's July unemployment rate of 21.7 percent, the highest in the state, even higher. The Cavalier closure follows that of Jockey International in 2006 and MI Home Products in 2007.