MUNCIE — Delaware County's great experiment in creating green jobs dependent on wind energy appears over.
Struggling Brevini Wind Division, a maker of large gearboxes, will cease operations in Delaware County at the end of August, company President Brian Richardson announced.
About 20 Brevini Wind employees, mostly machinists, CNC operators and quality control, will lose their jobs or transition to other industries.
"While Brevini Wind may be ceasing operations in the United States, Brevini USA will remain, and we will work in a highly responsible manner to help mitigate the impact to our employees and the local community," Richardson said in a press release.
The Brevini USA subsidiary of Brevini Group's Power Transmission business unit, located in Park One/332 business park next to Brevini Wind's facility, employs more than 40 workers and will continue there, operating under a consolidated "One Brevini" corporate structure.
Richardson said the company will honor its obligations to the county and repay money for failing to create jobs in return for funds to develop the business. The company was originally to create 410 jobs, and paid $375,000 in penalties last year for failing to meet numbers. Richardson said the county will receive an $800,000 payment next spring, for a total of about $1.2 million to be returned to the county.
The workers who are losing their jobs will receive severance packages. Brevini Wind will work with other manufacturers and WorkOne to help displaced workers find other jobs.