The announcement that a small manufacturer in Shamokin plans to hire 100 workers to make 3-D glasses for movie theaters and residential high-definition televisions is a welcome counterpoint to reports of plant closings and layoffs.
What may be particularly encouraging about the effort to help D/E Associates transform from a struggling plastics manufacturer into a blossoming business is the way it tanspired.
A company official approached Northumberland County commissioner Frank Sawicki at a chamber of commerce business expo two years ago and said his company was in trouble. By the end of 2008, D/E Associates would have to lay off 28 of its 40 employees.
They hit paydirt in 3-D. The revitalized 3-D entertainment industry — bolstered by the tremendous success of the movie “Avatar” has created a global demand for 3-D glasses. When Bartos encountered a representative of 3-D Global Glasses who said his company needed a partner to manufacture glasses, he referred them to D/E Association. Company officials now say they could soon make 1 million pairs of 3-D eyeglasses a year.
In review: Company officials realized they needed help, they asked for it, and political leaders helped them get it. Sounds simple.
Often enough, business matters are not that simple and it ends up costing workers their jobs. The Valley has seen several cases where out-of-state executives determined that the bottom line would benefit by closing up shop. Those decisions have sometimes been unaffected by the frustrated efforts of political leaders. When Celotex was still open in Sunbury, state Rep. Merle Phillips was able to get the Governor’s Action Team in the Department of Community and Economic Development to step in and unsuccessfully try to find a way to keep the mill operating and save the 120 jobs there. In other cases, political leaders were unaware that companies were planning to close or found that offers of assistance have fallen on deaf ears in the days leading up to a plant closing.
Business decisions are sometimes painful and have real human costs. We hope that other business leaders see the path D/E Associates took and follow it, as well. Assistance is available, but to get it, someone has to ask.
Editorials
Business rescue offers promising example
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NetSummary
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