HANCOCK COUNTY — The first significant large-scale layoffs have begun at Hancock County companies because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announcements from a Greenfield auto parts manufacturer and a McCordsville area sign maker Thursday and Friday affect 415 workers.
Also by Friday, the state had added four more confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Hancock County, bringing the total to 13.
BWI Group in Greenfield temporarily laid off 336 employees; and Image One LLC near McCordsville took action regarding 79 workers, according to notices the companies filed with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
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Crystal Kottlowski, human resources representative for BWI in Greenfield, told the department of workforce development in a notice that a temporary shutdown of operations is due to this week’s executive order and business circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an executive order on Monday, March 23, calling for many workplaces to close to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Kottlowski wrote a total of 336 employees are affected at the plant, located at 989 Opportunity Parkway. The total includes 172 permanent BWI employees and 164 temporary employees from First Call and Morales Staffing agencies.
“We hope to recall employees once our customers resume manufacturing operations,” Kottlowski wrote.
Ford Motor Company, a customer of the plant, is tentatively scheduled to restart operations on April 7, Kottlowski wrote.
BWI Group, also known as BeijingWest Industries, celebrated the grand opening of its first U.S. production facility in Greenfield last July. The more-than $80 million, 276,000-square foot facility started out making shock absorbers with plans to make other suspension systems in the future.
Image One, located at 7795 N. County Road 200W near McCordsville, also cited the coronavirus pandemic in its notice to the department of workforce development. Linda Eilmann, human resources director for Image One, described the company’s situation as a temporary layoff and/or reductions in hours that commenced on March 18.
“Given current events, we do not know how long this situation will last and are sending this notice in an abundance of caution, Eilmann wrote.
The company, also known as AI Innovations, moved from Fishers to Hancock County last year. It manufactures signs, channel letters, LED displays and awnings.
BWI Group and Image One were the only Hancock County employers to file notices by Friday afternoon. Other big manufacturers in Hancock County — Keihin, Tsuda and Indiana Automotive Fasteners — did not return requests for comment by press time Friday, although IAF had a recording on its phone line indicating the plant was open and all shifts should report to work as normal.
Critical manufacturing under a U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency memorandum regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, which Holcomb cites in one of his executive orders from this week, includes “Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base.”
Crystal Baker, office manager and preparedness coordinator for the Hancock County Health Department, told the Daily Reporter in an email Friday that the county’s latest four confirmed COVID-19 cases are either isolating at home or hospitalized. She added none are over the age of 60, a population believed to be more at risk to the disease.
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Indiana COVID-19 data as of 11:59 p.m. March 26
Total positive cases: 981
Total deaths: 24
Total tested: 6,936
Total positive cases in Hancock County: 13 (including one death)
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
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COVID-19 cases in the U.S. recorded as of March 27
Total cases: 85,356
Total deaths: 1,246
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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