Green Bay Converting (GBC) has announced layoffs affecting fewer than 35 employees following a significant fire that destroyed its warehouse and inventory in March. The company is engaged in a multi-phase recovery plan, aiming to resume partial operations within 60 days.
What happened
On March 16, a fire destroyed Green Bay Converting's warehouse and inventory at its Larsen Road facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While the production facility and equipment were largely preserved, they sustained smoke and water damage. Cleanup of production equipment is over 50% complete, with structural cleaning and repairs as the next phase. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
How many employees affected
Fewer than 35 of the company's more than 200 employees in Green Bay were impacted by the layoffs. The company is providing financial assistance and transition resources to those affected.
Why layoffs happened
The company stated that the "difficult decision" to lay off employees was made due to the disruption to operations and the evolving recovery timeline required to return to its pre-fire scale. Despite carrying full payroll since the fire, the challenges created by the recovery necessitated supporting some employees in transitioning to other employment.
Company background
Green Bay Converting (GBC) is a Green Bay, Wisconsin-based company with over 200 employees. It operates a facility on Larsen Road.
Industry impact
The provided sources do not offer information regarding the broader industry impact of these layoffs.
What's next
Green Bay Converting remains hopeful of reoccupying its offices and restarting partial production within 60 days. A return to full production is more likely during the summer, with the company committed to exceeding its pre-fire levels of operations and restoring pre-fire staffing levels by the end of the year. The rebuild of the warehouse will take longer but is not expected to significantly limit the ability to restart production.