Instructions came down from Magni-Power of Wooster, Ohio that the Howe, Texas location, Magni-Fab Southwest, would be closing its doors at the end of April. Most of the afternoon consisted of meetings with employees informing them that their jobs would be going away with the plant at that time. The metal fabrication plant has been in Howe since 1971 when originally beginning with 25 full-time employees. The original facility is located at the former Grayson County Coliseum on the northwest corner of US 75 and FM 902. As the company grew at the turn of the century housing nearly 200 full-time employees, the company purchased the former Old America Stores warehouse. Currently, the plant houses 28 full-time employees and another 41 temporary positions.
In a press release from Jeffrey D. Musselman, Secretary of Magni-Fab Southwest Company, it stated:
“It is with deep regret that we must announce that Magni-Fab Southwest Company will be closing its operations on April 30, 2019. The company has experienced financial difficulty for several years, making it impossible to justify keeping operations running. We had hoped to weather this storm, but after efforts to secure additional business and attempts to sell the business proved unsuccessful, the difficult decision to permanently close the company was made.
We realize that without the hard work and support of our employees and their families, and the community as a whole, the company could have never continued for as long as it did. It has been a wonderful 47 years in business, and we sincerely thank everyone who made it happen. We wish all the very best in the future.”
Howe Mayor Jeff Stanley made the following written statement to the Howe Enterprise:
“Our prayers go out to those that will be affected by the closing of Magni-Fab, from the employees, families, school kids that have had projects paid for or provided for, and all through the community of Howe, this will affect us all in some way. We, as a community with you. “
