Muskogee loses 130 jobs

Another blow to the economy is headed for Muskogee. A long-time manufacturer is shutting its doors. <br/><br/>Gerber-Coburn workers were told Thursday most of their jobs will be moved to the east coast.

Friday, June 25th 2004, 5:42 am

By: News On 6

Another blow to the economy is headed for Muskogee. A long-time manufacturer is shutting its doors.

Gerber-Coburn workers were told Thursday most of their jobs will be moved to the east coast. Their plant is shutting down to cut costs and cutting 130 jobs in the process. Over the last eight months Muskogee has lost approximately 700 manufacturing jobs.

Gerber-Coburn's move has just added to the trend, but one Muskogee leader hopes that trend is on its way out. Muskogee Development executive director Lisa Clark: "the level of companies looking at our area indicates to me that we are starting to turnaround finally."

City leaders say they're working on bringing jobs in to fill the void left by companies like Gerber-Coburn.

Clark says seven companies have visited the city in the last two months. And she says they hope to have some good economic news by the end of the summer.