“I just don’t know of a bunch of jobs out here that people can get,” Clark said.

DeLong first started business in Albia in 1988. The business grew in 1994, adding a facility in Lovilia, along with an additional building in Albia for a customer service center. At that time, it was operating six other plants in Iowa and had facilities in New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Oregon. At one time, the Albia plant had about 100 employees, according to the AIDC office.

Iowa Workforce Development is planning a rapid response meeting for DeLong’s employees 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at the Albia Chamber of Commerce Office.

“It’s a shame, it just really is. It’s heartbreaking to lose your job that way,” Leffler said.

Pat Shaver can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at p.shaver@ottumwacourier.com.