ASHLAND, Ohio (AP) -- A cookie plant that closed two months ago in Ashland is reopening under a new company that surprised former employees with $1,500 Visa gift cards.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Lance, Inc. will begin operations next week at the former Archway plant with a staff of 50 to 70 workers. Nearly 300 employees lost their jobs when Archway filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October.
Lance officials handed out gift cards Tuesday and say they expect to finish hiring workers by Thursday.
Lance has promised to hire workers at the same rates they were making at Archway -- an average of $14.93 per hour.
Former Archway worker Don Haught of Ashland says he held hopes the bakery would reopen and wants to see everyone back to work.
Ashland is about 50 miles south of Cleveland.
