Tri-State leaving Ashland, Pattersonville; 122 out of a job

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The Tri-State Envelope plant is seen in Ashland on August 29, 2024.

ASHLAND – Almost three years to the day the company was sold to a Maryland company, Tri-State Envelope is closing its hometown plant, leaving 122 people without a job.

“Tri-State Envelope made the decision to optimize its envelope manufacturing business by transitioning the work from its Pennsylvania facility in Ashland and warehouse in Ringtown to its other location in Wapello, Iowa,” a spokesperson at Tri-State told the Sentinel. “This decision is aimed at lowering costs, improving efficiency, and streamlining operations.”

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Tri-State’s warehouse in Pattersonville, seen on August 29, 2024.

The spokesperson said employees were told Wednesday and the transition will be done on Oct. 27 or shortly after.

A WARN notice filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry says 122 employees are being let go and the plant is expected to close between Oct. 27 and Nov. 10.

“The company is supporting the employees with a transition plan that includes assistance in exploring other opportunities within the company, separation benefits, and other resources to help ease this change,” the spokesperson said. “Tri-State Envelope is complying with all state and federal labor notifications, policies, and laws throughout this process.”

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A trailer bears the name of Tri-State.

Tri-State was purchased in Dec. 2021 by Moore, a Lanham, Maryland company specializing in marketing.

As of Wednesday afternoon, all references to Ashland were scrubbed from Moore’s website and a webpage split by Wapello and Ashland now only shows Wapello.

Tri-State’s Ashland plant was one of, if not the, company’s first. The company was founded in 1966 by Joel Orgler and the plant opened in early 1967 and has been expanded multiple times.

In the 1980s, the company purchased the former Purolator plant in Pattersonville, which they refer to as their Ringtown warehouse.

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