Beaver County is soon to feel the economic fallout of dwindling manufacturing activity. The chemical plant operated by Styropek in Potter Township, known for producing essential components for styrofoam products, announced it will close its doors at the start of 2025. The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, marking a definitive end to the plant’s operations and the loss of 140 jobs commencing on January 3rd,
WPXI
reported.
Residents in the area are registering the impact, with one, Larry Zahn of Hopewell, lamenting the loss, saying, “We need those jobs and to see them leave is very disappointing.” The shutdown seemingly burdens a community already grappling with the economic upheaval attributed to the pandemic. One community member, Kristy Taylor, said in an interview as per
WPXI
, “Everybody relies on working, jobs and the economy is horrible right now.”
The plant in question, situated close to the Shell cracker plant along the Ohio River, has been a fixture in the community since the 1940s. Styropek acquired the facility in 2020 with plans to enhance its production capabilities, but it appears that the company could not meet market demands effectively or manage the necessary improvements. Their products, particularly styrene beads that form the basis of many styrofoam items, are ubiquitous in everyday life, from cups to coolers.
Workers at the plant and the wider community face the repercussions of its impending closure. As expressed by Ivan Babich of Potter Township, who has previous experience with such economic blows, “It makes a big difference, it really does… it hurts,” according to
CBS News
. The sentiment around the wind-down paints a grim outlook for the communal fabric of the area, punctuated by concerns over the ‘trickle-down effect’ of such job losses on neighboring businesses and families.
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