JLG plant in small southeast ND town to stay open

OAKES, N.D. - It was a good day in this small one-stoplight town in southeastern North Dakota: An equipment plant that is Oakes' third-largest employer is not closing after all.

The JLG Industries Inc. plant, which makes aerial work platform lifts for businesses and the military and employs 61 people, had been scheduled to close Sept. 24, moving some of its jobs to other states.

Oshkosh Corp., the parent of JLG, announced Thursday that the Oakes plant will stay open. A statement from the Oshkosh, Wis.-based company said the plant will finish its work for JLG and then move on to other jobs for Oshkosh, which recently was awarded a military contract totaling more than $1 billion.

"It's really good news for us," Mayor Garry Opp said.

Oakes, which is approximately 130 miles southwest of Fargo, has a population of about 2,000. A billboard on the edge of town welcomes visitors to the home of former Buffalo Bills defensive end Phil Hansen.

Opp said the JLG plant, which opened in 1972, once had as many as 170 workers. It is the third-largest employer in Oakes behind the hospital and nursing home, he said.

More than 100 workers have been laid off in the past year, including many who worked at JLG for at least 25 years, Opp said. Some left town because it would have been difficult to find similar-paying jobs in Oakes, he said.

Opp knew of other workers who recently had put their homes up for sale. "I'm sure this may change their philosophy," he said.

Workers at the plant had no comment. They were told not to speak to reporters, said Colette Gross, the plant's director of operations.

U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan and Gov. John Hoeven said they had spoken to Oshkosh CEO Bob Bohn, a native of Grant County, in the southwestern part of the state, about keeping the plant open.

Hoeven, who visited Oakes on Thursday to meet with workers, said Oshkosh had to look at the kind of jobs it would need before making a commitment to the Oakes plant. He said the company still leases the plant.

"They have an ongoing financial obligation at this plant," Hoeven said. "That's certainly a factor, along with just the good work of the people."

Oshkosh has about 12,000 employees worldwide. JLG is based in McConnellsburg, Pa.

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