Goodyear sees influx of jobs after solar plant closes

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The city of Goodyear is learning that when one door closes, another door opens.

Next week, solar panel maker Suntech will close its plant and more than 40 employees will lose their jobs. The news comes as Macy’s announces plans to expand its Goodyear online fulfillment center and Cookson, an industrial door manufacturer, prepares to leave southwest Phoenix and break ground on a new plant in Goodyear.

In a written statement, Mayor Georgia Lord said, “We are growing and ready to help accommodate companies like Cookson to provide jobs and expand our work base. The Cookson Company has been in business a long time and we look forward to the facility being among other businesses here.”

According to the city, Cookson already employs 140 people in the Valley and could hire 160 more when the plant opens in 2014.

When Macy’s 300,000-square-foot expansion is complete next year, company spokesman Jim Sluzewski said they’ll add the equivalent of 125 full-time jobs.

“Our online sales across the country were up more than 40 percent last year on top of a growth of more than 40 percent the year before that, so it’s been a quickly-growing business.”