GHCC addresses recent plant closings, layoffs

GAINESVILLE - The closing of the Avery Dennison Plant last week is not going unnoticed by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce (GHCC).

President & CEO Kit Dunlap is calling for task force to address the issue of attracting new business and industry to the community.

Dunlap commented recently to her board of directors in the wake of a string of plant closings and layoffs.

"(We need) to get together with the municipalities...(and) Hall County and work with the business community and make a plan and get on with it about how to attract some new business to this community," Dunlap said.

"If you don't have spec buildings, if you don't have infrastructure as an industrial park, you might as well be out of business."

That said, Dunlap noted that despite the layoffs and plant closings, many places are "hiring" and the jobless rate here remains around three percent.