Russell Corp., an apparel manufacturer, announced Friday that it will close its last Cross Creek Apparel plant in Mt. Airy, N.C., by the end of August, 2007. About 300 employees will lose their jobs.
According to company officials, the plant closing is the result of reduced market availability for U.S. textile manufacturers, as imports increase for textile and apparel products from China and the Far East.
Russell said that it must align its manufacturing capacity to current market conditions in order to remain competitive.
The company is offering outplacement services to the Mt. Airy employees, with the assistance of North Carolina's Dislocated Worker Unit.
Cross Creek Apparel Inc. is a a division of Russell, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. and Alexander City, Ala.
