News Summary
International Timber and Veneer (ITV) announced plans to close its Jackson Township facility by August 18, 2025, leading to the layoff of 81 employees. This decision, communicated through a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, is a response to economic challenges exacerbated by China’s ban on American log imports. The closure will significantly impact local workers and the community, highlighting broader trends in economic pressures across manufacturing industries.
Pennsylvania – International Timber and Veneer (ITV) has announced plans to close its facility located in Jackson Township, Mercer County, by August 18, 2025, resulting in the layoff of 81 employees. The closure will affect workers at the plant situated at 75 McQuiston Drive, near Jackson Center, as part of a broader response to ongoing economic challenges.
The decision to cease operations was made public through a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry on June 9, 2025. This notification is a federal requirement under the WARN Act that mandates companies to provide a 60-day notice prior to mass layoffs or facility closures in an effort to safeguard workers and communities from abrupt job losses.
The closure is attributed primarily to unpredictable conditions in the global economy and a strained international trade environment. A significant contributing factor to this challenging situation has been China’s decision to impose a ban on imports of American logs, which has severely affected ITV’s operations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that China suspended the processing of these imports due to the detection of forest pests in U.S. shipments earlier in March 2025.
ITV has indicated that the challenges faced by the company extend beyond international issues. The firm has also grappled with a skilled labor shortage, rising labor costs, and a substantial increase in prices for essential production equipment and supplies. As a result, the company concluded that a viable long-term outlook for continued operation of the Jackson Center facility is no longer feasible under the current circumstances.
Since its inception in 1997, ITV has specialized in processing logs into veneers for various trading companies around the world. The company’s operations have contributed to the local economy, making the pending closure concerning for the community that depends on the jobs and economic opportunities provided by the facility.
As the closure date approaches, impacted employees are likely to face uncertainty regarding their future employment opportunities amidst a challenging labor market. The layoffs will significantly impact both the individuals directly involved and the surrounding community, as they adapt to the loss of jobs in a sector that has seen turbulent shifts in recent years.
The decision by ITV to close its Jackson Township facility reflects broader trends seen across industries in the region, where economic pressures and international trade disputes continue to shape the landscape for manufacturing and production. Stakeholders will now be looking closely at how both local and state officials respond to this development, as they seek to support the affected workers and mitigate the impact of the closure on the local economy.
In summary, the closure of International Timber and Veneer’s facility in Pennsylvania marks a significant event for the community, highlighting the challenges faced by manufacturing industries in the current economic climate and underscoring the impact of global trade dynamics on local jobs.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- PennLive: Company Closing PA Plant
- Wikipedia: Trade War
- WFMJ: Mercer County Manufacturer Closure
- Google Search: China Import Ban American Logs
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Import
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Economic Crisis
