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Mid-Atlantic Precast in the King George Industrial Park makes concrete wall panels for hotels and other buildings.
SUZANNE CARR ROSSI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

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Plant opens and lays off workers
The same day a King George company holds a grand opening, it gets bad news--and has to lay off workers
Date published: 11/13/2009

By CATHY DYSON

The day a King George County concrete company held its grand opening--and gave economic-development officials across the region reason to celebrate--the company got bad news.

Mid-Atlantic Precast learned that one project it was bidding went to a competitor, and a second one, a hotel for which Mid-Atlantic was ready to start production, was put on hold.

"We were counting on those jobs to keep us going for the next two months," said President David Stone. "So I had to make the sad decision to cut the work force to save money until we get something in here to produce."

Mid-Atlantic wouldn't give details on the number of people laid off or other reductions that went into effect. Office Manager Donna Cutshaw said several employees suggested cutting benefits to keep others employed longer.

Mid-Atlantic produces hollow-core wall panels that are used in hotels, dormitories and apartment buildings. It started production in the spring and held its grand opening in the King George Industrial Park on Oct. 30.

Mid-Atlantic was the only precast-concrete manufacturing plant to open on the East Coast this year.

Stone said during the grand opening that he expected to double his workforce when the economy rebounds.

This week, he said the company is finding fewer projects to bid and "slow payment from most of the contracts we have."

He hoped the "hard business decision" to lay off workers would keep the company in business.

"I figure that with saving as much money as we can now," Stone said, "it will postpone the complete closing of the plant in the next few months and position us well for the rebound."

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com



Date published: 11/13/2009



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Hope and change didnt work out in 2008 (posted by Jaes , Nov. 13, 2009 7:25 pm)    0 likes
Im hoping we can get some change in 2012.

GW was appointed. (posted by GaryShorts , Nov. 13, 2009 5:52 pm)    0 likes
George Washington was appointed by the Second Continental Congress to be commander-in-chief in 1775, which is different from the President as the Constitution defines it. Congress, as defined by the Constitution, did not appoint Washington but elected him.

George Washington wasn't appointed President (posted by dontask , Nov. 13, 2009 5:47 pm)    0 likes
but he WAS appointed commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary forces in 1775 by the Continental Congress.

China? (posted by econ101 , Nov. 13, 2009 4:16 pm)    0 likes
How much does it cost to ship the forms from China? Not sure this type of work can be outsourced....

GW was appointed? (posted by 4merstaf4dian , Nov. 13, 2009 3:14 pm)    0 likes
George Washington was not appointed by Congress to be the President. He ran for election, essentially unopposed, but nonetheless ran for President. The election was more about the VP and that was won by Adams. Where the keck did that come from?

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