MONROE CITY, Mo. The doors to the Pace Die Casting plant in Monroe City will officially close in July leaving the company’s employees, and the town of Monroe City with serious questions about the future.

“Everybody’s kind of in shock,” said Angie Griggs.

It’s been less than a month since Angie Griggs was laid off from her job at Pace Die Casting and after hearing the news of the plants upcoming summer shut down, she says reality is setting in.

“I’m stunned that it’s happened. I never thought I’d see that plant close. I know both plants in Monroe City Intermet Die Casting and Pace Die Casting have been struggling, but I never thought it would come to this,” said Griggs.

City Administrator Jim Burns says things might get worse before they get better as another business in town fights financial struggles.

“Intermet Die Casting is in the bankruptcy process and they just last week got an auction procedure approved by the bankruptcy court. They’re looking for someone to buy the whole company,” said Burns.

While Burns knows the struggling automotive industry is to blame for problems at Pace Die Casting and Intermet Die Casting, he’s hopeful the town can bounce back.

“We know we have good labor in town a lot of dependable, reliable workers and hopefully we’ll be able to find someone who can use those workers,” included Burns.

For Angie Griggs and other residents who will soon be jobless, it’s hard to look forward to the future when the present is so devastating.

“The worst thing will be people losing their houses, their cars, their way of life,” said Griggs. WGEM

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