Staff File Photo by Katie Hartley
Workers at a Whirlpool Plant in Cleveland assemble a wall oven.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., hailed the news that Whirlpool Corp. is moving 500 jobs from Oxford, Miss., to Cleveland.

In a statement, Rep. Wamp said the move “recognizes the high-quality workforce and the local leadership through Mayor Tom Rowland and the Chamber of Commerce.”

Local leaders and Cleveland Whirlpool workers were told today that the company would close its Oxford plant and move 500 jobs to Cleveland.

The Cleveland plant now employs about 1,100 people, down from a peak of 2,000, local officials said.

The news is the equivalent of a new industry, County Mayor D. Gary Davis said.

“It could have easily gone the other way,” Mr. Davis said. “Retaining industry is important if not more important than bringing in new industry some times.”

In his statement, Rep. Wamp also noted what he called “a strong partnership”between local and federal governments and the private sector to solve flooding problems around Whirlpool’s Cleveland plant.

“Knowing that some jobs were leaving the area, Senator (Lamar) Alexander and I secured federal funding for the detention ponds to solve the problem and create a stable environment conducive to economic development and job creation,” the statement said.

Mr. Davis and Mr. Rowland both credited Rep. Wamp and Sen. Alexander for securing money to build the detention ponds.

See Friday’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for complete coverage.