Murray Calloway Economic Development Corporation told West Kentucky Star Thursday morning that Briggs & Stratton has announced it will shut its Murray small-engine plant down by fall of next year.
In a press release, the company cited a difficult market driven by the lack of affordable housing as a reason for the slowdown in demand for its small vertical-shaft engines, which are manufactured at the Murray plant. The closure is expected to save the company $12-$14 million by 2021.
Affected employees will reportedly be offered the chance to relocate to another facility. The Poplar Bluff, Missouri plant will be hiring to help deal with increased production after the Murray shutdown.
"The company, with over three decades of operations in Murray, has been a respected and generous member of the community and their absence will be a serious impact to our local and regional economy," Murray Calloway Economic Development Corporation President Mark Manning said in a news release. "From this moment forward, all efforts will be concentrated on recruiting other companies that can take advantage of a highly skilled and motivated workforce along with a community that provides an affordable, outstanding quality of life for company executives and their employees."
