The 193-year-old gun plant in Ilion, New York, owned by RemArms, the successor to renowned gunmaker Remington Arms, is ceasing its operations and moving its base to Georgia.
The company informed the United Mine Workers of America, representing 270 of the factory’s workers, about the decision to relocate through a letter sent on Thursday.
The closure of the plant is scheduled for March 4, with layoffs expected to occur between that date and March 18, as reported by Utica’s Observer-Dispatch.
Ilion Mayor John Stephens informed WAMC radio that about 309 individuals are employed at the factory, making it the largest employer in the town.
RemArms did not specify the exact location in Georgia where the new factory will be established. However, it cited cost of operations, maintenance, and insurance as the primary reasons for the relocation, according to the Observer-Dispatch.
The union denounced the decision, with UMWA International President Cecil Roberts stating, “The workers in Ilion enabled RemArms to rise from the ashes of the Remington Arms bankruptcy in 2020-21. … Merry Christmas from RemArms. The simple fact is that RemArms will never be able to match the experience and dedication of the workers in Central New York, who for generations worked in this plant and kept this company alive.”
The production of firearms in the region dates back to 1816, when Remington commenced manufacturing flintlock rifles. The Ilion site, established in 1828, features infrastructure mostly constructed in the early 20th century, according to The Associated Press.
Outdoor Life magazine has designated the Ilion plant as the longest-operating gun factory in America.
Expressing their dismay, local officials mourned the impending relocation.
Ilion Mayor John Stephens expressed his shock and disappointment, stating, “It’s shocking because, you know, it’s like, cold water hitting you in the face. … There is disappointment not with the company, but with New York state.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Republican, placed blame on the state leadership, asserting, “It is because of New York Democrats’ unconstitutional gun grab policies that the oldest gun manufacturer in the country has been run out of the state.”
