LANDIS — The Parkdale Mills plant in Landis will permanently close April 24 due to “changing business conditions,” according to a WARN notice filed on Feb. 27. All 94 employees will be laid off.

A WARN notice, which stands for a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, is required to be filed when a company announces plans to either close a facility or conduct a mass personnel layoff. In its notice, Parkdale Mills said the closure is due to changing business conditions.

Following a WARN notice, “Rapid Response” is then implemented to serve as an early intervention program to help employers and workers face the upcoming layoff, closure or other sensitive business actions.

The Parkdale Mills Plant, labelled Plant 23, is a textile mill making yarn, fiber and thread. The plant is located at 100 S. Main St.

Karen Menting, vice president of human resources for Parkdale Mills, said the company is doing its best to transfer workers to nearby locations. The company will work with the local Employment Security Commission to provide assistance in hiring in the other locations, but those jobs are limited, the notice stated. A job fair for associates of the company will be held within the next few weeks, Menting said.

Leonard Barefoot, interim manager of Landis since January, said the Parkdale Mills plant is one of the biggest water customers for the town. The closure will result in less water ordered by the town from Kannapolis, he said.

Barefoot said the town is concerned with losing the plant and what that means for the workers, especially since the facility is located on the same street as the Landis Town Hall. He added that the town “feels for them.”

“We hate to see them go,” said Landis Mayor Meredith Smith.

She added that the city will work with the Rowan County Economic Development Commission in moving forward with filling the space with another business or industry.

To view the full WARN notice, click here.

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.