GALESBURG, Illinois—
A plant closure usually marks the end of a company in the community. But in Galesburg, there's an exception this time. It's going from making work clothes to embracing green technology.The sun is shining on Carhartt again. Dark times disappearing nearly a year after the plant closed for good.
"Everybody was expecting it," said Cindy Teel, who spent 31 years with the company. "Except when they finally closed us, we didn't expect it."
Shock for Teel and the other remaining employees. When the work clothing manufacturer shut down in Galesburg in July 2009, she was the last one out the door.
"We had worked here most of our lives," she recalled. "It's a part of your identity, and your identity is gone."
But now, the identity is back.
Carhartt's ownership team didn't give up on Galesburg. It selected the plant to become a Sustainable Business Center. Using green technology, it hopes to eventually replace some 200 jobs that were lost here.
"It's full circle," said owner Gretchen Garth. "There's no such thing as waste. It's just how you impact the environment and earn income at the same time."
There's a vision to turn bare shelves into a thriving business incubator. Plenty of space and opportunities for small businesses to make green products for energy or food.
For starters, the center plans to build a large kitchen, open a cafeteria, and sell organic meals.
"They have a lot of really neat ideas," said Kyle Cecil, University of Illinois Extension. "It's just that they need some help getting from the idea to the product. This is going to be a one-stop shop for them."
After going back to Carl Sandburg College to study business, Teel is reinventing herself. She's back in the plant where she started in 1977. And the Galesburg business community is discovering new opportunities one business at a time.
"I'm sure it will have a whole different look," she said.
As facility manager, it will be a totally different job with plenty of potential.
"I'm very excited," she concluded. "I look forward to learning more about this."
Learning more about green business in Galesburg.
For more information on the Sustainable Business Center, call (309) 343-1191. It's located at 2900 West Main Street in Galesburg.
