Spartan International Closes Mills

Spartanburg, S.C.-based Spartan International closed suddenly May 4, leaving 1,200 workers in six plants and the corporate offices without jobs.After defaults on financial agreements, assets of the company were seized by General Electric Corp., Fairfield, Conn. The management of the company made the decision to offer us peaceful possession of the assets, the collateral behind the loan, said John Oliver, spokesperson for General Electric, Stamford, Conn.Spartan had been a customer of General Electric since June 1999 but had trouble as early as December 1999, Oliver said.The six mills affected were the Spartanburg plant; the Rosemont plant, Jonesville, S.C.; the Jefferson plant, Jefferson, Ga.; the Cleveland-CaroKnits Lawndale plant, Lawndale, N.C.; the King Finishing plant, Statesboro, Ga.; and J.P. King Manufacturing, Augusta, Ga.Spartan President Barry Leonard said, We worked hard for several months trying to save the jobs of the 1,200 associates at Spartan International. We tried day and night to do that. Its a shame this is the result.Leonard blamed the companys problems on the economic slowdown and imported products.

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