3,000 Sealy Factory Jobs in Jeopardy

SEALY, Texas - The City of Sealy and the Katy Area Economic Development Council have formed a task force to address to possible closure of a Sealy plant that employs almost 3,000 people for Austin, Harris and other southeast Texas counties.

The BAE Systems facility produces vehicles for the U.S. Army and contributes approximately $500 million to the Texas economy annually by way of employee salaries, contractor costs and vendor partnerships, according to a Katy Area Economic Development Council statement released on Tuesday.

"It's inconceivable to us that BAE systems, who has produced 56,000 vehicles over the last 17 years, would be rated equal to a competitor who has only produced one prototype," said company spokesperson Davy Kong.

The plant has been located in Sealy since 1992, but the U.S. Army decided to award a contract to a company in Wisconsin, which puts the facility's future in doubt.

Nick Tirey, Mayor of Sealy, says he wants the task force to "mobilize the community in a grassroots effort to keep these 3,000 jobs in Sealy and the surrounding areas."

A workshop to attract task force volunteers will take place on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Sealy City Hall.