Moore Business Forms has announced it will close its plant here next year, a move that will affect 90 employees.

Bob Broadbear, a vice president for Moore North American, said the plant's most skilled employees or those needed elsewhere may move to other Moore facilities.Stephen Forbes, director of communication for the Toronto-based company, said 10 other plants will also close during the next year - seven in North America, two in Australia and one in Brazil - eliminating 20,000 jobs worldwide.

"There's quite a few tears," said an employee who requested anonymity. "It's kind of a dark cloud over the St. George plant. One way or another, we'll survive."

A 17-year veteran of the plant, who also asked that his name not be used, was surprised by the announcement.

"I felt we had a lot of things going for us, that we were going to expand by bringing in more presses," he said. "Most people didn't expect this. It was a shock to management, too."

View Comments

The doors of the plant won't close until next year, most likely in July. Broadbear said the 100,000 square foot building will be put up for sale.

Employees staying until the plant closes will be eligible for a severance package, Forbes said.

Doug Parmeter, a St. George manager, said severance will also be offered to employees who leave at an agreed-upon departure time. The company will help workers find new jobs, he said.

Moore business Forms opened in St. George in 1975. The company prints mailers for clients in the western United States. The number of employees has fluctuated over the years, peaking at 250 employees in the 1980s.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.