BERLIN, PENNSYLVANIA – The Snyder of Berlin chip plant in Somerset County is set to close in February, leaving roughly 96 employees without jobs and raising concerns about the local economy.
Employees said they were informed of the closure by company officials, with severance packages promised to those who remain until the plant shuts down. “I know probably at least a dozen people who work over there. Some of them are friends, and I feel for them,” said lifelong Berlin resident Eric Blubaugh.
Local business owners worry about the wider impact on the community. “We depend on a lot of the revenues from the sale of electricity, the garbage, the sewer, and water. It affects everybody,” said Brett Custer, former Berlin Borough Council member and owner of Diamond Gas Station. He noted that reduced plant operations have already lowered traffic, which could hurt other local businesses.
The plant, a longstanding fixture in Somerset County, is owned by Our Home. Many residents fear limited job opportunities amid a struggling economy, while others hope the closure might eventually open doors for new employment in the area.
The Pennsylvania WARN notice filed Thursday, Dec. 4, confirms that about 96 workers will be affected by the closure.