Newton-based Iowa Telecom had been the business that came in and filled the old headquarters building in downtown Newton after Maytag abandoned it.
It was one of the smaller companies city leaders hoped to expand in town and replace the old Maytag jobs. Three-hundred and fifty people work for Iowa Telecom in Newton and 450 others work across the state.
Tuesday, Little Rock, Arkansas-based Windstream Communications announced plans to buy Iowa Telecom for $1.1 billion, pending approval from state and federal regulators and the Iowa Telecom shareholders. Newton residents worry where current Iowa Telecom workers will go now. Ed Lawrence said, "They're going to go back to their training again probably unless the company takes them. "
Brandi Meyers, who is already looking for a job, said, "Now it's really...it's going to be hard now."
A Windstream spokesperson said the company plans on keeping a presence at the current Iowa Telecom headquarters and will expand the call center. But he couldn't provide specific numbers yet. He said both companies will work on that.
It was one of the smaller companies city leaders hoped to expand in town and replace the old Maytag jobs. Three-hundred and fifty people work for Iowa Telecom in Newton and 450 others work across the state.
Tuesday, Little Rock, Arkansas-based Windstream Communications announced plans to buy Iowa Telecom for $1.1 billion, pending approval from state and federal regulators and the Iowa Telecom shareholders. Newton residents worry where current Iowa Telecom workers will go now. Ed Lawrence said, "They're going to go back to their training again probably unless the company takes them. "
Brandi Meyers, who is already looking for a job, said, "Now it's really...it's going to be hard now."
A Windstream spokesperson said the company plans on keeping a presence at the current Iowa Telecom headquarters and will expand the call center. But he couldn't provide specific numbers yet. He said both companies will work on that.
