Company to Reopen Plant in Mattoon

A company that closed a plant in Coles County two years ago is coming back.

Houston-based NCI Building Systems, Inc. operated a plant in Mattoon for about 20 years until it was forced to close in 2009 because of downturns in the economy.

The company manufactures insulated wall systems for large commercial and industrial developments.

Angela Griffin, the president of Coles Together, said the closure left a dent in the community by eliminating about 45-to-50 jobs. She said many of those workers have been able to find new jobs within the last couple of years.

"There may still be some that are on unemployment, and hopefully they can reach back to those people and get them," Griffin said.

She said the company's return is about a $20 million investment in the community, which she estimates will initially lead to about 25 new jobs.

Mattoon beat out four other sites outside of Illinois to host the plant.

"We thought we had lost them for good," she said. "Their industry had taken a big hit, and they had vacant buildings in other states. We thought it was a slim chance that they would bring production back to Central Illinois. So, we were very pleased.