Perth searching for solutions in wake of Grenville Castings loss
Posted Jul 4, 2018 07:23:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Leaders at the Town of Perth have plenty of work ahead of them, as they try to figure out how to make up for the loss of 380 jobs expected in 2019.
Town Councillor Jim Boldt told 1310 NEWS' The Rick Gibbons Show, he thinks there could still be time to talk to the Michigan-based company which owns Grenville Castings, Magna International. The mayor has reached out to local MPP Randy Hillier and MP Scott Reid about what can be done, as it's a move that Magna contemplated for months.
“Here's a company, that less than three years ago, came to the Town of Perth and said, 'We need land for expansion, directly adjacent to our plant,'” he explained. “And we sold them one of our soccer fields, for goodness sake, much to the chagrin of many soccer players. But for this very reason — we want to keep our good corporate tenants happy.”
Boldt said a spokesperson from Magna told Perth's mayor that Grenville Castings hadn't turned a profit since it opened about seven years ago. Other than that, not much of a reason was given for its closure.
In a town of just 6,000 people, Boldt believes everyone will feel the effects of these job losses. He added that the industrial base shrinking could negatively impact future tax rates.
That is, unless they are able to find a solution.
Maybe the cannabis industry will come calling.
“With [Smith's Falls cannabis company] Tweed going the way they are, they need big buildings, and my goodness, if a company like Tweed wanted to come in and we could negotiate some kind of a takeover by them, I think that would be great for our community,” said Boldt optimistically.
Listen to the full conversation with Perth Town Councillor Jim Boldt:
