Role of Glass & Glass Products Manufacturing in the Economy of Huntingdon County

The Penn State Workforce Education and Development Initiative conducted an analysis of the economic impact of glass and glass products manufacturing in Huntingdon County in Pennsylvania. The analysis was designed to help understand the impact of the layoff of 77 employees at the AGY Products, Inc. plant in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, effective April 3, 2010, that was announced on the Department of Labor and Industry's WARN notice website. AGY Products Inc., headquartered in Aiken, South Carolina, manufactures fiberglass yarns and reinforcements. The layoff generated considerable discussion in the community, which is documented in the Huntingdon County Alexandria Forum on topix.com.Products provided by AGY Products, Inc. are classified in the North American Industrial Classification System, code 32721. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, establishments in this industry "are primarily engaged in manufacturing glass and/or glass products. Establishments in this industry may manufacture glass and/or glass products by melting silica sand or cullet, or purchasing glass." During 2007, 97,876 workers were employed in 2,102 establishments in this industry throughout the U.S., with a payroll of $4.2 billion