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P.W. Minor in Batavia laying off 45 people at that shoe manufacturer

A longtime Genesee County shoe manufacturer is laying off about half its workforce, but plans to stay in business.

P.W. Minor, which was founded in 1867 and is the second oldest footwear maker in the U.S., says it will lay off 45 full time employees, but retain 40 others and focus on its core business.

The company has closed its Goodyear Welt manufacturing line, which is a process used to re-sole high quality shoes.  The P.W. Minor plant in Batavia will stay open and focus on making orthopedic and diabetic footwear.

The company says the market for that type of footwear is growing in the U.S. and around the world.

P.W. Minor CEO Hundley Elliotte says his company appreciates offers from state and local officials to help get the affected employees back to work as soon as possible.  He says, “when the time is appropriate in our business cycle, we will re-engage our Goodyear Welt manufacturing capabilities.”

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.