Some of the 58 employees who were furloughed have taken jobs elsewhere in the company already, spokeswoman Lia LoBello added.

“Due to the continued uncertain economic outlook, CertainTeed reached the point where it needed to make the difficult, but necessary decision to mothball operations at the Fort Dodge, Iowa, location for the foreseeable future,” LoBello said in a written statement.

She said the company will continue to perform basic maintenance at the plant, which is south of Fort Dodge on Webster County Road P59.

“We recognize the impact that the mothballing of this site will have on employees, their families and the Fort Dodge community,” LoBello said. “We are working closely with all impacted employees to provide support and resources and have helped successfully place a number of employees within other CertainTeed plants as well as outside the company.”

She said that 20 percent, or about 12 of the 58 employees, have taken jobs at other company plants.

“We understand others have obtained employment outside of the CertainTeed network and we believe that our career counseling resources will continue to benefit those going through this difficult process,” she said.

According to Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, three factors combined to cause the shutdown. Those factors, he said, are a weak housing construction market, the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that the plant is one of the smallest and oldest in the company.

The plant was built in 1950. It was previously owned by Celotex and BPB.

Plant workers were informed on May 8 that they would be furloughed and the plant would be idled at least temporarily.

The company has a gypsum mine in Webster County that has remained active.