WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Herff Jones to Close Lewiston Manufacturing Plant, Photo Lab

Herff Jones to Close Lewiston Manufacturing Plant, Photo Lab

One of the largest employers in a small southeastern Minnesota town is closing part of its operation.

Herff Jones, Inc. announced Thursday it will close its manufacturing plant and photography lab in Lewiston, and consolidate the work to their facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Herff Jones employs about 275 people at the Lewiston facility. Mike Williams, vice-president of Human Resources for Herff Jones, would not comment on the number of employees affected by the closing, but did say some employees would remain at the Lewiston facility.

Williams says the closing is expected to be complete by June 30.

Scott Wiens, who owns the Weins Food Center grocery store in Lewiston and sits on the city's Economic Development Authority, says the the closing at Herff Jones is devastating to the community of 1,500 residents.

Wiens says while the company employs a large number of people in Lewiston, Herff Jones is also involved in community events and projects, like the Fools Five road race.

"Herff Jones has always been supportive of our community events and obviously that will be gone," Wiens says. "We're going to miss them."

Herff Jones is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and makes educational products, recognition awards, and graduation-related items for the school market in North America. The company employs about 4,000 at its 22 U.S. plants.