Southwire Company

Executives at an electrical wire manufacturing plant in Watkinsville say a shaky economy will force them to layoff more than half of its workforce. Southwire executives announced that 80 or more of the plant's 140 employees will lose their jobs. The company said shrinking business in the housing industry was a key factor that led to downsizing plant operations. Southwire said it will restructure the facility to produce only bare copper wiring.