Chattoogans Watchful As Mount Vernon Mills Closes Plant In Alto

A newspaper in Northeast Georgia announced this morning that Mount Vernon Mills Inc., is closing its plant in Alto.

The news of the northeast Georgia plant closing has trickled across the state to Chattooga County where Mount Vernon Mills also operates a plant in Trion.

The News tried contacting the company to see how the Alto plant closure will affect the Trion mill. The Northeast Georgian newspaper reports that Alto will close in 60 days. That plant employs about 600 people.

“I think [Mount Vernon is] making some very, very positive strides to position themselves in this global economy,” Trion Mayor Larry Stansell said.

The mayor was notified that the Trion mill could benefit from the Alto closure.

“I think Mount Vernon made some very hard decisions. I’m sure they were hard decisions for them in Alto,” Mayor Stansell said. “Mount Vernon is positioning themselves to thrive and grow in the future and that is a positive.”

This morning other local officials were also reaching out to the mill to offer their help. Those officials included Chattooga Commissioner Jason Winters, State Senator Jeff Mullis and Northwest Georgia Joint Economic Development Authority project manager Spencer Hogg.

“There are going to be a ton of rumors. I think things should be OK, but you just don’t ever know. . . We are in constant communication with them,” Commissioner Winters said.

Mayor Stansell said since talking with mill executives he feels much better about the Trion plant.

“I’m much more positive than I have been. I have a much better perspective of what is going on,” Mayor Stansell said.

Mount Vernon operates plants in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and internationally. The Trion mill produces denim,  fabrics with indigo and sulfur dyeing, piece dyed and finished fabrics (cotton and blends) including flame retardant, military uniforms, sportswear and career apparel, according to the company.

The Alto plant made fabrics and yard for career apparel, military uniforms, sportswear, workwear with cotton, blends, singles and plied yarns, according to the company.