Ampad shutting Holyoke plant putting 176 people out of work

<p>American Pad & Paper is closing its last plant here and laying off 176 people, company officials said.</p><p>Officials said the decision to close the Holyoke plant and move its machinery to plants in Tennessee, Illinois and Mexico was part of a move to make the company leaner and more competitive.</p><p>The company was founded in Holyoke in 1888 by Thomas Holley, and at one time made more than 1,000 different kinds of writing pads, envelopes and specialty papers.</p><p>However, Ampad, now based in Plano, Texas, slid into bankruptcy in the 1990s, and was purchased in 2003 by Atlanta-based Crescent Capital Investments.</p><p>Also being closed is a distribution center in Westfield that employs 24 people.</p><p>Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan said Thursday that severance packages will ease the impact on the workers, and the city will actively help them find new jobs.</p>