Feb. 24--Around 70 to 80 employees were laid off last week at the Ethan Allen plant in Old Fort. However, a spokeswoman for Ethan Allen said the furniture company intends to maintain a "strong manufacturing presence" in Old Fort and the rest of the United States.

"Due to the current challenging economic environment which has affected sales, we are taking steps to reduce our workforce," said Peg Lupton, spokeswoman for Ethan Allen.

Lupton said the number of workers who lost their jobs at the plant in Old Fort is between 70 and 80. She added there are no plans to shut the plant down.

"Our objective is to maintain a strong manufacturing presence in Old Fort," she said. "When business conditions permit, we would expand our operations in Old Fort."

Lupton said that the plant still has around 300 employees, after the layoffs. The Old Fort facility makes bedroom and dining room furniture.

Jennifer Hollifield is one of those who lost their jobs on Thursday. She had worked there for a year and a half as a hand sander in the finishing department.

Hollifield said she and the other employees were called into the office and were suddenly told they would be out of work. The layoffs affected all of the departments.

"I was a permanent employee who got a permanent layoff," she said. "They just picked people out of the departments and got rid of us right then like we were yesterday's trash."

She said the workers were told to get their belongings and leave the premises.

Like the others, Hollifield said she doesn't know what she will do. "There's nothing at the ESC," she said, adding the other employment services don't have anything either.

About 20 office and maintenance people were let go on Friday, according to Hollifield.

"Anytime layoffs are involved we know it is very difficult on the people affected," said Lupton.

She added other Ethan Allen employees were laid off throughout the company, which is based in Danbury, Conn.

"Right now, 65 percent of our products are made in the United States and the goal is to increase that to 70 percent," said Lupton.

When asked if these workers could be hired back if the economy improves, Lupton said, "We don't know what's going to happen in the future."

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