Osage, Iowa, faces a significant economic shift as Fox River Mills, a cherished local institution with a remarkable 125-year history, prepares to cease operations. This closure marks the end of an era for the sock manufacturer, a company deeply embedded in the community’s fabric since its establishment in 1900, bringing a substantial economic impact to the region.
The formal announcement came on Tuesday, July 29, when the company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with Iowa Workforce Development. The factory is slated to close its doors permanently on October 10, a decision that will unfortunately lead to the job losses of 105 dedicated employees, a considerable number for the local manufacturing sector.
This impending shutdown represents a severe blow to the broader Iowa economy, particularly for Mitchell County. Osage Mayor Steve Cooper, a figure with 32 years of involvement in city government, expressed profound lament over the news, noting it as the first plant closure of this magnitude during his long tenure.
Mayor Cooper recounted his earlier anxieties when Fox River Mills was sold to a holding company of investors, fears that have now materialized. The recent sale to a new entity, which opted to consolidate operations by relocating all equipment to their existing knitting mills and headquarters in North Carolina, directly precipitated the closure of the Osage plant.
Despite the initial shock, Mayor Cooper’s immediate concern gravitated towards the future of the employees. Conversations with plant manager Bobby Warren and representatives from the purchasing company revealed a mutual desire to maintain a corporate presence in Osage, specifically to retain the skilled design team and experts in knitting techniques, recognizing their innovative contributions to the textile industry.
For generations, Fox River Mills has been more than just an employer; it has been a cornerstone of the Osage community. Mayor Cooper fondly described the company as not only a significant manufacturer but also a deeply community-minded entity, actively contributing to the local welfare and development throughout its extensive history.
Earlier in the year, there was a glimmer of hope, as evidenced by an Iowa PBS article featuring Bobby Warren. He proudly highlighted Fox River Mills’ unique status as the oldest continuously operating sock mill in the United States, an enduring symbol of American perseverance through various historical events, consistently producing quality knit products.
However, Warren also underscored the broader challenges facing domestic manufacturing, attributing the industry’s shift offshore to the forces of globalization and international trade agreements. He pointed out the stark reality that only approximately 3% of apparel is currently manufactured in the United States, a testament to the intensely competitive global market that ultimately contributed to this local impact on employment.
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