By Francis Scarcella
MIFFLINBURG — One Valley modular home builder has recalled up to 50 percent of its furloughed workers, and another plans to bring back three laid-off employees and hire 12.
Although business is still tenuous, about 20 of 40 furloughed Ritz-Craft modular home employees have been recalled, general manager Steve Forcheskie said Tuesday.
“We started out of the gates better this year then last,” he said. “But the last couple weeks, things have really tightened up again.”
Ritz-Craft , which manufacturers modular homes in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina, also sells through builders in 29 states.
“Orders are coming in very slowly, but some weeks are better then others,” Forcheskie said. “It just has been so up and down.”
Jamie Hanford, Ritz-Craft marketing coordinator, said she is seeing increased inquires over the past few weeks.
“The spring weather is bringing people out to look around,” she said. “Foot traffic is increasing, and we have been getting a lot more e-mails, so I think that is good news.”
Forcheskie said one of the reasons for the decline in business has been banking issues for consumers trying to get financing.
“These banks need to loosen up a bit,” he said.
Marty Sickle, sales manager for Integrity Building Systems in Milton, agreed.
“One of the biggest culprits in the decline of business is the banking industry,” Sickle said. “People get ready to purchase and then have banking issues.”
Sickle said that Integrity has furloughed about 30 workers since November, and it is not ready to hire anyone back just yet.
“Orders haven’t been what they were,” he said. “We have been holding our own, but it’s not like it was.”
Dan Steimly, CEO of Icon Legacy Custom Modular Homes in Selinsgrove, said business should be improving for everyone soon.
“Things will be picking up, and anyone that has been furloughed should be returning to work,” Steimly said.
“From what I see, I think the industry is improving.”
Icon Legacy builds and delivers modular homes in about 25 states.
Steimly said that about three people were furloughed and although they have not returned to work, they will be.
“Not only will people be back to work soon, we will be hiring another 12 workers,” he said.
Icon Legacy has seen its numbers climb through the end of March 2010 as opposed to 2009.
“We are currently 45 percent ahead at the end of the first quarter this year,” Steimly said. “It is a big difference from last year’s first quarter’s numbers.”
Even with better times coming, Steimly agreed with the others about banking issues.
“The banking system has gone from bad to worse,” he said. “Banks need to start to be more personable with buyers.”
Maria Culp, president and CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce in Milton, gave credit to the Valley businesses.
“This is a competitive industry where the market is down,” she said. “But even with the economy like it is, they all still continue to produce products, which is great news.”
n E-mail comments to fscarcella@dailyitem.com.
