Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued the following statement regarding the impending closure of New Era Cap Company’s Derby facility. The closure, which would take place effective March 2019, would affect over 200 local workers.

“I was very disappointed today to learn of the impending closure of New Era’s Derby manufacturing facility, a move that hurts more than 200 families here in Erie County,” Poloncarz said. “New Era is such a homegrown success story that its name now adorns the professional football stadium owned by the people of Erie County. As such, the announcement of the closure took my administration by surprise because no one from New Era contacted my administration or the Erie County Industrial Development Agency to notify us of this decision or to explore potential ways to keep New Era employees working in Derby. Nevertheless, I have reached out to New Era CEO Chris Koch directly to determine if any action can be taken to preserve these jobs. I hope there is still time to avoid this outcome and will work with New Era, should they choose to do so, to find a solution that is better for Erie County workers.”

# # #