The Municipality of Port Hope is working with Northumberland County, the Northumberland Manufacturers Association, and the federal government to support workers affected by the closure of the AkzoNobel production facility.
Mayor Olena Hankivsky confirmed the municipality has reached out to all three bodies since the April 22 announcement that production will permanently cease at the company’s Rose Glen Road site. The closure follows a major fire on April 9 that caused significant damage to the building.
Hankivsky says she’s grateful for the outstanding job done by firefighters under the leadership of Director of Protective Services Jason Williams.
Approximately 45 employees may be impacted by the decision, but it remains unclear how many may lose their jobs. Some staff will be retained to continue working at a storage facility on-site.
Hankivsky says they continue to work to support those affected by the closure.
Hankivsky said the municipality is actively identifying ways to support workers and the broader community through the transition. That includes reaching out to AkzoNobel and exploring how Port Hope and its partners can help workers access employment services or retraining programs.
The mayor also confirmed the federal government has been contacted to explore any support that might be available for the local economy and workforce.
The municipality and county are also liaising with the Northumberland Manufacturers Association to explore potential opportunities for local hiring or redeployment of affected staff.
The mayor says they’re waiting to hear more in relation to just how many jobs will be affected.
While AkzoNobel has long been a fixture in the community, the loss of its production site is expected to have ripple effects beyond the 45 workers, impacting families and local businesses.
No timeline has been announced for the wind-down of operations or the future of the Port Hope site beyond warehousing activities.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)