March 10th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

Delegate Jason Buckel tells WCBC News that the announcement this week that the Hunter Douglas Cumberland plant is closing is unfortunately further reflection on a lack of planning and urgency on the part of local officials in the area of ecomomic development. Buckel says in many ways the county is not adequately prepared for the high tech 21st century business model- focusing instead on tourism, lite manufacturing and small business. He said he finds it disconcerting when he hears local officials lament losing major employers like Hunter Douglas or Verso without ever having reached out for assistance…

He says while there have been clear indications and trends pointing to Hunter Douglas’ plant closing- he finds it  alarming that it apparently caught some officials completely off guard…