Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Local Goodrich Not Closing

There is no cause for concern with the B.F. Goodrich plant in the Clark County Industrial Park.

Though two other Goodrich plants, Sheridan and Heber Springs, are closing, the new factory in Arkadelphia will remain open, this according to Tom Donnelly, plant manager of the Clark County facility.

Donnelly, and others in the company, was concerned with public reaction after the announcement of two other Goodrich plants being closed in the state, and wanted everyone to know the Arkadelphia plant was in no danger of shutting down.

In fact, the Clark County plant is desperate for employees at this time.

"We've got a tremendous opportunity in the after market," he said, as the Arkadelphia site manufactures parts for airplanes no longer in production. At this time there are some 9,000 such aircraft in use, with the number growing.

State Rep. Percy Malone echoed Donnelly's statement, saying there is no need for anyone to panic locally.

The people applying for jobs at the plant need not be discouraged by the news of other closings, he said, but we do need to do something for those who lost their jobs in the closures. "The Clark County Industrial Council (CCIC) will help them relocate here."

Goodrich customers, supplied by the Sheridan and Heber Springs plants, Donnelly said, are sensitive with any transfers as they don't want their business interrupted.

The company, he said, has talked with its customers, giving them detailed plans on how the job of closing the plants will be done without affecting them.

Don Hinkle, general manager of the Sheridan plant, said this has helped with the transition. The Sheridan plant, he said, currently builds parts for aircraft still in production.

The shutdown of the Sheridan location will take about a year to complete.

The shutdown, Donnelly said, will give the Arkadelphia plant the chance to get some experienced workers for the Clark County site from Sheridan, and help with the after market work being done.

"We'll take as many as we can handle where they match," he said. "We're committed to the long term workers. The Arkadelphia plant is on schedule and we are accelerating some plans, but there's been no change in the forecast for market size or share."

He said Goodrich wants a good working relationship with Clark County, as the county has a keen eye for economic and industrial development.

The Arkadelphia plant has 225,000 square feet of floor space on 65 acres in the industrial park. Construction, Donnelly said, has begun again as the building was first started in 1990.

This is when the project was with Rohr Industries. However, market problems resulted in delays and Rohr later merged with Goodrich, with Goodrich taking over for the Clark County business.

The plant is in operation with 35 employees at this time. The first sale was made Nov. 23, 1998.

Donnelly said the company hopes to have 200-300 employees in the next two or three years.

"We are dedicated in providing service for aircraft in service but not production," he said. "As new models (of aircraft) are introduced, others go out of production and we'll keep servicing them."

At this time, Goodrich has a contract with Boeing, but can sell to other airlines.

Historically, he said, industrial production goes in cycles as demand requires. But, with post production this should flatten out to a steady level as the planes are already in the air and need parts.

Those interested in applying for a job with Goodrich can do so as applications are still being accepted. Applicants should go to the Arkansas Employment Security Division office in Arkadelphia for an application.

Once accepted, there is a 10-week pre-employment training program they must undergo. If they successfully complete this program, Donnelly said, they will be offered a job. Then comes a 160 hour pre-production training program in the factory.

However, he said, even those who aren't hired by Goodrich after taking the pre- employment course will benefit, as they will have learned skills vital to other area industries.

Hinkle said some of the workers in Sheridan have been called by other places looking for people already trained in aerospace work. There are such jobs available other places in Arkansas, he said.

Donnelly, returning to the topic of training, said the first sessions were held at Henderson State University, but the most recent graduates attended class at the plant.

Those hired, he said, are far exceeding expectations. "We're pleased with the caliber of people we've gotten here. We're delighted with our workforce. We've gotten top-notch people.'

Malone said several newspapers contacted him about the closings, but added these shutdowns didn't get the media attention they would have 10 years ago.

Part of the reason, he said, is there have been positive comments about other industries taking the empty plant over. Replacing one business with another doesn't generate much of a fear factor.

"The CCIC wants people to know Clark County is not involved in the shutdown, but is going forward and will be enhanced. There will be good jobs, secure jobs with a stable business," Malone said.

The unemployment rate in Clark County, at this time, is 3 percent, according to figures released from the Arkansas ESD. "People," Malone said, "need to know the economy is good and industry is in good shape. Goodrich has moved forward quickly."