There's some news, from the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, regarding its efforts to avert the planned closing of Clarion's Owens-Illinois Company glass production plant. And, unfortunately the word is not good. A statement, issued by E-D-C Executive Director Brad Ehrhart, does indicate that O-I's corporate chief executive has told U-S Senator Bob Casey that O-I's decision to shut down the Clarion plant is final and that O-I would not sell the local facility to any glass industry competitor. With that word, the team of local and area government and civic leaders, under the County Economic Development Corporation, will be trying to develop a business plan involving the re-use of the glass plant site. The E-D-C says it and the Clarion Boro Government are talking with O-I real estate officals about the disposition of the of the Clarion facility. O-I has said it plans to prepare the local site to be marketed by a professional industrial realtor. And, it is expected to take six to 12 months to get the property ready for sale. There is also word that Senator Casey's office is working, with the state department of labor and industry, to investigate the availability of funds to re-train current O-I employees. The Clarion County Economic Development Corporation says that it, along with the governor's action team and the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, will market the Clarion site to attract new investment to Clarion County.
















