Holcim to close Clarksville, Mo., plant; construction in Ste. Gen going forward

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. -- Holcim Inc. said it plans to close its cement plant in Clarksville early next year, leaving about 180 people unemployed.

The company, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim Ltd. is one of Pike County's largest employers, drawing workers from Missouri and Illinois to its plant and barge-loading facility along Highway 79.

"It's a very black day for Holcim," company spokeswoman Nancy Tully said Tuesday. "Our focus right now is our employees and that we operate safely with the time remaining."

She said the company is moving forward with construction of its roughly $1 billion cement plant in Ste. Genevieve County.

Fred Bridwell, an engineer, has worked for Holcim for more than four decades. He said he helped construct the plant and will now assist with the shut down. "We never saw this coming," said Bridwell, 64, who planned to retire next year. "Mouths flew open. Nobody expected it. My whole life, I spent there."

Clarksville Mayor Jo Anne Smiley said the closure will have a huge effect on the county. "It's a sad time. It's going to be difficult to digest and look at where we go from here," she said.

In addition to the Clarksville plant, a similar facility in Dundee, Mich., will be shut down, resulting in the loss of 159 jobs.

In a statement, the company blamed the closings on "the extensive downturn in the demand" for its products.

Tully said the closings are not tied to the construction of Holcim's massive cement plant in Ste. Genevieve County.

Work there began in March 2006 and completion is scheduled for next year. Tully said Clarksville employees are welcome to apply for positions at Holcim's other plants.

The company will decide what to do with its Pike County property after operations cease.