Amsted Automotive/SMW to Close Lafayette County Plant; Olinc Pledges Support

The Amsted Automotive/SMW plant in the Lafayette County Max D. Hipp Industrial Park is closing, the county’s economic development organization announced Thursday, putting roughly 50 local jobs at risk. Oxford-Lafayette Inc., which operates as Olinc, said it has already engaged company representatives, state and local agencies and industry partners to limit disruption.

Olinc Chief Executive Officer Ryan Miller said the immediate priority is cushioning the impact on employees. “Every effort is being made to ensure any employee of SMW who is impacted by this closure has an opportunity to transition into new employment with limited disruption,” Miller said. “We are also working closely with Amsted and our economic development partners to identify new businesses that might have an interest in the SMW facility and that aligns with the goals of our strategic plan.”

SMW Manufacturing Company, acquired by Amsted Automotive in 2021, engineers cold-formed and precision-machined components for heavy truck, automotive, mining, construction, infrastructure and industrial markets. The closure reflects pressures in manufacturing related to changing global demand and corporate consolidation, factors Miller acknowledged while stressing local resilience. “The Oxford and Lafayette County community is vibrant and fast-growing, and while global trends can impact business, locally, we are confident new opportunities will present themselves that will enhance our quality of life and economic health,” Miller said.

For Lafayette County residents, the loss of a 50-worker plant has immediate household and fiscal implications. Workers face job search and income interruption, while local suppliers and service businesses that relied on plant payroll will likely see reduced receipts. A facility in Max D. Hipp Industrial Park also represents a physical asset that Olinc and county leaders are now marketing to prospective employers, a key step in preserving the tax base and rehiring displaced workers.

Olinc said it will coordinate with state workforce programs and local partners to support transitions and to recruit replacement employers that fit its strategic priorities. The organization framed the effort as both mitigation and economic opportunity, seeking to convert an announced closure into a chance to attract new capital and jobs to the park.

Amsted Automotive’s acquisition of SMW in 2021 makes this a recent chapter in the plant’s ownership history, and the closure will test Lafayette County’s economic development capacity during a period of broader manufacturing shifts. For now, the practical next steps for affected workers are engagement with Olinc and state employment services as Olinc pursues new business leads and partnerships in the near future. The coming weeks should clarify timelines for severance, transition assistance and any recruitment progress, and residents should watch for local announcements on resources and hiring events.