Ameriwood to close

TIFFIN — Dorel Home Furnishings officially announced the upcoming closure of its Ameriwood manufacturing facility in Tiffin. According to an official statement, the manufacturing activity at Tiffin's Ameriwood location will be transitioned to the company's Cornwall, Ontario, factory, and the Tiffin plant will be repurposed to operate as a distribution center. The Tiffin plant is located at 458 2nd Ave. The decision was prompted by a depression in the furniture industry resulting from high interest and mortgage rates, the statement states. In the statement, Dorel Home Furnishings President Ray Toal said, "We sincerely regret the need to cease manufacturing at Tiffin and realize the impact this will have on the workers involved and their families." Tiffin's 200 hourly employees and management personnel were given a 60-day notice, according to the statement. The last day of operations at Tiffin's Ameriwood plant will be Sept. 5, said Rick Leckner, media contact for Dorel Home Furnishings. The repurposed distribution facility, he said, will employ a minimum of 40 hourly and salary personnel, at least some of whom will be retained from current Ameriwood staff. Aaron Montz, president and CEO of Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, said TSEP has received very little information from Dorel, but expects the closure to "have an impact here locally." One positive for Ameriwood employees, Montz said, is the number of current open positions at other local manufacturing companies. "Many are hiring," he said.