Shaw Industries will close a spun yarn plant in Ringgold, resulting in 430 job cuts.

Shaw released this written statement Tuesday afternoon:

"Shaw Industries Group, Inc. will close Plant DX, a spun yarn facility in Ringgold, Ga., in the upcoming weeks. About 430 employees will be impacted by this closing. Shaw will give the affected employees preference for existing and future openings at other company plants and over time expects to rehire a significant number.

"The decision to close the DX facility is the unfortunate result of the unprecedented difficulties of the housing sector, which impacts consumer demand in many categories, including carpet and flooring products. Those conditions, coupled with changing customer preferences for other carpet product types, make this a necessary step in order to balance production.

Shaw spokesman Al Scruggs said Shaw will operate using spun yarn from plants in Valley Head, Ala., as well as Tifton and Chatsworth, Ga.

The company closed a spinning mill in Stevenson, Ala., in June 2008, followed by a similar mill in Trenton in November.

In March, Shaw closed a plant in Calhoun for a total of 1,710 jobs lost in Georgia and Alabam. A plant in Valdosta, Ga. was also closed that month.

In its statement, Shaw said that the company will provide "immediate support to assist affected employees during this time of transition and will deploy its Central Hiring Office resources to focus efforts in order to help match displaced associates with openings at other Shaw locations, an approach that has previously proved successful."

"Shaw is also partnering with the Georgia Department of Labor’s Rapid Response Team to provide on-site one-on-one sessions to counsel employees, explain benefits, and provide outplacement and retraining.

"In addition, Shaw is contacting regional employers to help identify future career opportunities for affected employees that do not relocate to other Shaw plants. Shaw expresses its sincere gratitude to the employees at Plants DX for their years of support and service.

"The decision to close Plant DX in no way reflects on their performance. Shaw remains confident about the future of the carpet and other flooring business and improving conditions in the years ahead. The company continues to protect and improve its competitive position and leadership in the industry.”