NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Crane Stationery is pulling up stakes after more than 200 years making paper in the Berkshires.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, company officials said they had made the "difficult decision" to shift operations to parent company Mohawk Fine Papers in Cohoes, N.Y.
The news isn't a surprise: Crane announced a month ago it would be laying off nearly its entire workforce of more than 200 by June 19.
"For almost 220 years, Crane has made its home in the Berkshires. It's an indelible part of our history and our culture, and an enormous point of pride," said Thomas O'Connor, CEO of Mohawk in a statement. "We recognize that our departure will be felt by the North Adams community, but at the heart of this decision is our commitment to ensuring that the extraordinary heritage of the Crane brand lives on.
"Crane partners with hundreds of small-business retailers around the country and serves customers who have lifelong and even generational relationships with Crane. We are optimistic about our next chapter and being able to continue that legacy."
The company had pointed to the shutdown in mid-March because of the novel coronavirus as exacerbating its financial difficulties because of reduced demand and the bankruptcy filing of a major distributor It brought employees back to complete orders with the help of a federal Payroll Protection Program loan that will expire on the date of the stated layoffs.
"We have spent the last several weeks determining how to reposition our company while keeping the greatest number of employees working," according to the company statement, but officials say, "the current facilities in North Adams represent too much space and unsustainable overhead costs given our decreased business scale."
Mohawk Fine Papers purchased the company in 2018 from an employee partnership and a year ago was touting its commitment to invest $3 million to $4 million into the facility in the Robert Hardman Industrial Park on Curran Highway. It was in the midst of a rebranding effort expected to be unveiled by the end of the year.
Instead, an unknown number of employees, "craftspeople," will be transferred to the Cohoes plant, where the family company is headquartered.
Mayor Thomas Bernard said he was contacted by Crane officials shortly before the statement was released.
"I'm disappointed but not surprised," the mayor said.
The city and the company have been at odds since Crane was allowed reopen a few weeks ago to provide materials to "essential" businesses. Crane officials refused to submit a plan showing only that essential work was being done and the Board of Health refused to back the mayor's attempt to enforce an emergency health order.
Bernard said he's still "in the dark" on what Crane's plans are for its workforce after conflicting communications were given to him, employees and the media in late April on whether the company was closing or not.
He said his continued concern is the health, safety and well-being, and especially the economic well-being of the employees who spent so many years doing the work that secured Crane's reputation.
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Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.
More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.
Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."
Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.
Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
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