Just 10 years ago, Hancock County boasted 500 manufacturing jobs. But over the years, many plants have closed, and Volunteer Fabricators will shut its doors on July 31st. With the loss of 122 jobs there, the county will have lost 95 percent of their manufacturing jobs, down to only 25 left. County Mayor Greg Marion says lack of infrastructure in the county is going to make it hard to recruit new industry to the area. "Here in Hancock County," he says, "we just don't have transportation, and it makes attracting manufacturing almost impossible."
Robin Swanson owns the Sneedville Family Diner, she says the main concern right now is for those losing their jobs. "How are they going to pay their electric bill," Swanson says, "how are they going to put food on the table?" But t won't be just the workers who lose their jobs that are affected. "I see this affecting the local grocery stores, filling stations, even the local churches when it comes to tithing," says Marion, "I think this will affect every aspect of this community."
In the past, Hancock residents have been able to travel to nearby counties to find work, but that's not even a guarantee in these economic times. "The sad thing is," says resident Seven Gibson, "you used to could go to Rogersville or Morristown and find something, there's nothing there now either." But Gibson says this small, tight knit community will survive. "It doesn't look very good for us," he says, "but we'll make it, folks will make it because they are survivors."
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