Newberry, SC (WLTX)- As the Caterpillar Corporation continues to downsize throughout the country, here in the midlands, the plants in Ridgeway Newberry will start phasing out, laying off a total of more than 400 workers.
Director of Newberry's Economic Development, Rick Farmer, says the closing of a big business can have ripple effects in a small community.
"This is only two percent of the county's revenue stream, but its 100 percent of a family that's employed at caterpillar," Farmer said. "We will be in touch, we're working with the state department of employment and workforce, the state department of commerce, the governors office."
Farmer also expects other businesses to feel the effects of such a closing.
"It has an impact that's much deeper than just the 400 jobs lost," Farmer said. "There's an electric company that sells them electricity, the city of Sumter sells them water, so they're going to be a lot of folks who are going to lose a significant customer."
Farmer said the County is planning on getting a new tenant into the caterpillar building.
The county brings in 1.2 million dollars a year from caterpillar, they're going to have to adjust their budgets."
The closings in South Carolina are two of five throughout the country.