By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer
STEARNS — The McCreary County Record has learned that employees of LeSportsac’s local distribution center were recently given 90 days notice that the facility will close its doors this November.
The decision comes nearly four years after the bag manufacturer announced in late 2005 that its sewing factory in Stearns would close on January 30, 2006, which cost 177 employees their jobs and the county occupational tax revenues from a $3 million payroll.
The last available count for the distribution center stood at some 30 employees. Questions regarding the distribution center were referred to Jason Suttile, Director of Human Resources with LeSportsac’s New York headquarters. Suttile had not returned The Record’s telephone call by press time.
McCreary County Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips confirmed that he became aware of the situation nearly two weeks ago.
“One job lost is important to the person losing it,” Judge Phillips said. “I hate that this is happening.”
The news is also a blow to the county’s unemployment rate, which climbed another three-tenths and now stands at 14.8 percent for the month of July.
McCreary County still has two factories in ArmorShield, which produces body armor, and Outdoor Venture Corporation, which produces tents.
Congressman Hal Rogers announced last week that he had secured a total of $9 million with two new military contracts for OVC. The Department of Defense Appropriations Bill includes $6 million for U.S. Army modular command post tents and $3 million for U.S. Army air-supported temper tents.
