Moore elastics firm may move jobs

to El Salvador site

Westerly - State and town leaders are crafting measures they hope could prevent a global elastics and fabric manufacturer from moving its operations to a new plant in El Salvador.

Town Manager Steve Hartford has been working for several months with The George C. Moore Company. He said communication began once he learned the firm is considering relocating some or all of its operations at a new plant the company is building in El Salvador.

Any steps he may recommend would have to be approved by the Town Council, he said.

"I want to make sure the Moore company knows the town is here to support them," Hartford said Thursday, "and I want to make sure every stone is turned over in terms of what the town can do to keep them here. Most of the forces at work are outside of the town's control and are the realities of the worldwide marketplace."

The company, which employs about 150 people in Westerly, has been here for 100 years, town officials said, and is a good corporate citizen that produces quality worldwide goods, including swimwear, athletic and intimate apparel. The firm is also committed to its local workforce, they said.

The company has regional sales offices on Beach and Canal streets in Westerly. Other offices are located in Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and San Salvador.

Company officials could not be reached to comment, but Hartford emphasized it is not definite the firm will leave. While Moore is planning to produce the same fabric in El Salvador that it makes here, the company "is hoping to continue producing it in Westerly as long as they have a market for it," he said.

Katharine Flynn, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp.'s director of business development, has also helped out by putting company executives in touch with Procurement Technical Assistance, a state effort to enable the firm to get new government clients. She has also referred them to agencies and individuals who may help lower their costs in the U.S. and get them more customers, she said.

Hartford acknowledged at the public Downtown Summit meeting Thursday that his office was working an unnamed manufacturer Town Councilor Ken Parrilla identified only as a firm rumored to be considering moving to El Salvador.

Parilla advised the panel, which had convened to discuss downtown retail revitalization, that nurturing the manufacturing industry was equally important. Later, forum participants and Town Councilor Richard Anthony confirmed that the company Parrilla was referring to was the Moore company.

Reached after the meeting, Lisa Konicki, executive director Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce, said the town has recently shown its willingness to work with the company by reducing its sewer usage bill by 25 percent.

"It really stands as a testament to the town's commitment to work with the Moore company in trying to keep them here," Konicki said. "They are absolutely a valued employer here. They're one of Westerly's most notable businesses. If we were to lose them it would devastating to local families. You can't replace a company like them."

p.daddona@theday.com