For now, Ilion isn't.
Wonder why?
Posted on 02/21/2024 4:53:21 AM PST by bert
The Remington gun factory nestled in New York’s Mohawk Valley is ready to shutter its doors and move to Georgia after more than 200 years in the Empire State.
"Two hundred and eight years of history. Gone, gone," Ilion, New York, Mayor John P. Stephens told the New York Times. "Ilion is Remington. Remington is Ilion."
Remington is the nation’s oldest gun manufacturer and told union officials late last year that company chiefs at RemArms, the current version of Remington Arms, made the decision to end its New York manufacturing come March. The remaining operations located in Ilion will move to Georgia, where company leaders say the firearms industry is supported and welcomed.
Residents of the New York village, which is located roughly 230 miles northwest of New York City, are bracing for the manufacturer to officially move, which some say will take part of the town’s identity with it.
"When Remington leaves, it’s not going to be like a facility leaving, it’s going to be like part of your family has moved off," Jim Conover, a retired Remington employee who began his career there in 1964, told The Associated Press.
A furnace operator and technician at the factory, Frank "Rusty" Brown, told the outlet that he and generations of his family worked at the facility and noted he and his wife will be out of jobs.
Frank "Rusty" Brown Frank "Rusty" Brown poses for a picture at the union office, across the street from the Remington Arms Co. compound, in Ilion, New York, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
"My mom worked there. My dad worked there. My wife works there with me now. My daughter works there with me now. My second daughter works there with me now. And my son-in-law works there," Brown said. "So it’s a double-hit for me and my wife: two of us out of a job."
The closure of the New York location will result in about 300 people losing their jobs in a town of roughly 7,600. The mayor of Ilion told the Daily Mail that the village is expected to lose $1 million in revenue due to the move, in addition to other local businesses taking a financial hit.
''It's like the town is losing its soul. It's almost like losing a family member. That's the thing that people are struggling with, the nostalgia, the history. It feels like we are losing the identity of the town," Stephens told the outlet.
"I've spoken to a few businesses, that's the part financially that's going to hurt. Even if it's only 300 people, they still buy gas, they still buy shoes. That's going to be a hit to the local businesses," he added.
The company, which was sold in 1993, again in 2007 and again in 2020, was rocked by financial woes in recent years, including filing for bankruptcy in 2018 and 2020. In 2022, the company paid $73 million as part of a lawsuit stemming from the Sandy Hook mass shooting in 2012.
REMINGTON ARMS DECLARES BANKRUPTCY DESPITE SURGING GUN DEMAND
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik and state Sen. Mark Walczyk both previously blamed New York’s restrictive gun laws for the move.
"Hochul must stop her unconstitutional assault on the Second Amendment now," Stefanik said in December, according to the Times Union.
Walczyk pinned blame on New York’s Gun Industry Liability Law for pushing the company out of the state. The law, which was signed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2021, allows gun makers to be sued if they "knowingly or recklessly create, maintain or contribute" to violence.
GUN ID LEGISLATION MAY TRIGGER EXODUS OF GUNMAKERS REMINGTON, COLT
The company's CEO said in a statement late last year that they are "excited" about the move to a state that embraces the Second Amendment.
SMITH & WESSON OFFICIALLY MOVES HEADQUARTERS OUT OF BLUE STATE TO TENNESSEE
"We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry," RemArms CEO Ken D'Arcy said in a statement. "Everyone involved in this process has shown how important business is to the state and how welcoming they are to all business, including the firearms industry."
For now, Ilion isn't.
Wonder why?
Welcome to Georgia, YALL
Somewhere in State of Georgia. Near Columbus or Valdosta or Warner Robbins? My guess: near a Military Base and near an interstate highway.
No sympathy from me.
Years ago, I was complaining to a gunsmith that Remington would send me the wrong parts, and was crap for customer service.
He told me the employees did it all the time on purpose when they were in a labor dispute.
Their quality also went to S.
There are ‘red-areas’ of NY as conservative as anywhere else. I live in one of them in the NE part of the state near the Finger Lakes. It’s beautiful here. I’ve only been to Ilion once, it had a nice small town vibe. Unfortunately most of the cities big and small are deep-blue $hitholes run by commie lib-tards. So many of the conservatives like this one are counting the days until we can retire and move.
Ukraine is said to need ammo.
I wonder if Chuck Schumer will fund a federal ammo factory in town.
I was looking at a map of New York State last night.
Perhaps upstate New York should be sold to Canada. Canadian real estate prices are high. Upstate New York real estate prices are often very low.
The Canadians might even be interested in buying Wayne County, Michigan.
NYS, GA.
What’s the diff?
NYS has Letitia James and Hochul.
GA has Willis and Kemp.
SSDD.
Remington needs its head examined.
Smith & Wesson.headquartered for almost 200 years in Massachusetts,recently left The Gay State for Tennessee.
Florida is New Jersey with stucco and palm trees.
Lagrange.
New York State is a LOSER State. No one in their right mind would bring a business there or keep one there. Ontario Knife moved out of NY too.
I lived a village over from Ilion (Herkimer). The Arms was the biggest employer in Herkimer County. My neighbors worked at the Arms. That area is mostly blue collar, conservative, Trump supporting voters. It’s going to be devasting to the Mohawk Valley.
There was a map of states receiving the money said to be for Ukraine on TV yesterday. The money goes to American companies making the weaponry sent to Ukraine. One such job source is here in East Tennessee........ Holston Defense Corp.
The facility makes virtually all of the explosives used in the various weapons.
And, new weapons are being provided to Ecuador and the old stocks shipped you Ukraine. The same process is providing stuff to Ukraine from some European sources.
Will bring a smile to Hochul’s face.
Lagrange, Ga. Near West Point, Ga. Which has a lake and a Kia assembly plant. Not too far away from Columbus which has a military base. Near -I-85. Lots of Alabama boys who will want to work. Hopefully the new factory will not have Unions. Keep those Yankies up north. Georgia is acceptable for manufacturing. Just stay away from 12 county metro-Atlanta.
I would suggest you travel down to Georgia and have a look around.
It is truly unfortunate that the red zones of New York are Tax Slaves like the red zones of California.
The Arms was like a red headed step child. The liberals in Albany and NYC did not care for it, but had to pay lip service to it because it provided jobs. The type of jobs the libs hated, so yeah it will bring smiles to Hochul and her wrecking crew. Glad I escaped NY.
“Implied in the article is the fact that Ilion has a soul....... It’s New York
For now, Ilion isn’t.
Wonder why?”
I wonder too, but what I wonder is what the hell were you trying to say?
It made ZERO sense to me. Hello? Comma-La is that you?
Congrats NY!!
Manufacturing really is the top of the food chain.
You get rid of the MFR. There are numerous business that their whole business in one way or another revolve around supporting that MFR or their employees.
Could be:
small niche manufacturers,
Food service people,
Maybe medical specialists, chiropracters, Physical therapists, etc.
Truckers, Taxis, ubers
Window washers, florists, car washes, dog groomers, child daycare, pet sitters, etc.
Once the top of the food chain goes. Their business, or customers, no longer are able to support them.
This is not the first company to pack up shop and leave. NY state has become very bad to business. Homeowners also. Cuomo once said if you are Conservative , then NY is not the place for you. The tyrants up in Albany are getting their wish. Wonder who will be paying all the taxes necessary to fund illegal aliens and the welfare state?
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