News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today released the following statement after TTI Floor Care North America announced it will close Hoover's North Canton main campus and manufacturing plant later this year and move those operations to Hoover facilities in Texas and Mexico. TTI acquired Hoover from Whirlpool about two months ago.

There are approximately 800 hourly and 180 salaried workers currently employed at various Hoover Stark County facilities including the main campus and plant in North Canton, the bag plant in downtown Canton and the distribution center in Jackson Township. TTI hopes to retain about 150 - 175 jobs in Stark County, including distribution, light assembly, service and administrative positions and has made offers of continued employment to more than 60 workers to relocate to its global headquarters in Glenwillow, Ohio (Cuyahoga County).

"Following an assessment of its operations, TTI made the difficult decision to close its North Canton manufacturing plant, a move that will have a significant impact on the community and particularly the Hoover workers who now face an uncertain future." said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "We have worked very hard to convince TTI to keep all jobs in Stark County. We are pleased that at least 150 union jobs will remain in Stark County but are disappointed that TTI has decided not to keep all union jobs. We want to ensure each dislocated worker that the State will be working with TTI Floor Care, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Stark County and the City of North Canton to assist you during this transition. The State is deploying economic development and rapid response resources that will be available in the next several days to meet with employees and ensure that they have access to available employment services, training programs, and informational resources that will help them plan for their futures. The team will also immediately begin reviewing options regarding redevelopment and job creation opportunities at the North Canton site."

Media Contact:
Kimber Perfect at (614) 466-2609 or
Maria Smith at (614) 466-2382, Ohio Department of Development
Jon Allen, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, at (614) 466-6650