By JAMIE BUSEN
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Methode Electronics Inc. began laying off the remaining 46 employees at its Golden plant earlier in the month and the facility shuts down for good Tuesday.

Meanwhile, at its Carthage plant, 59 workers have received layoff notices for Aug. 10.

The electronic components maker announced Jan. 24 it would eliminate 450 of the 600 remaining jobs in Carthage by the end of this year and close its automotive facilities in Golden. Some workers at the Golden plant have moved to the Carthage plant.

Eight years ago, a combined 1,700 people were employed at the two locations.

Blanche Shoup, director of the Workforce Investment Office of Western Illinois, has been meeting with affected employees about how to complete unemployment forms and retraining opportunities.

"Once they are actually laid off, they are coming to our Quincy office and completing all the paperwork. We are scheduling specific times for them to come in," she said.

Methode hired an outplacement firm to work with employees and assist in developing and preparing resumes. All affected employees are certified under the Trade Assistance Act to be eligible to receive training in a different career, such as obtaining a certificate from a community college or trade school.

"Not everyone wants to do that," Shoup said. "There are some folks who are not sure what they want to do with their future. But if they are interested in the training, they make the connection with our office."

What people are sure of, like Golden Mayor Jim Taylor, is that it will be a blow to the small village. The employees utilized the grocery and convenience stores.

"The village as a whole doesn't have the resources to physically go out and find someone to fill the plant," Taylor said. "I know that (Great River Economic Development Foundation President Jim Mentesti) and his group are actively working on this."

Mentesti said GREDF is waiting to hear what Methode plans to do with the 80,000-square-foot facility in Golden. New water lines were ran to the building several years ago, and Mentesti sees it as a viable property.

Methode filed an Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act on May 15, stating 77 employees at its Rolling Meadows facility will be laid off starting July 15. The plant, which produces legacy electronic connector products, will close.

Brenda Gorrell Pyatt, community development coordinator for Carthage, said her office received a notice that 18 employees would be laid off between June 23 and Tuesday and that 59 people would be let go Aug. 10.

Taylor said Methode in his town was "a good thing while it lasted." The plant has been there for about 26 years.

"It's a loss, but Golden as a town has accepted what's happened and we are moving on," he said. "I hope somebody will move in there and offer some good jobs. That's all you can hope for."

The information regarding the Golden plant came from a letter Methode sent to Adams County Board Chairman Mike McLaughlin.

Joey Iske, director of investor relations, said the company wouldn’t discuss the closing of either facility.

“We’d prefer to allow our employees to retain their privacy through this difficult time,” she said. “Our employees in Golden have been exemplary and professional during these past months. We wish each our sincere appreciation and the best of luck in their future.”

-- jbusen@whig.com/221-3385