Global Window Manufacturer Closes Iowa Plant — 300 Jobs Lost

According to Iowa's WARN act system, JELD-WEN, a major manufacturer of windows and doors, is shutting down the window production line at its Grinnell facility, leaving nearly 300 Iowa workers without jobs. The company announced that operations will officially cease on March 21st, 2025, marking a major shakeup for that community, amid major shake-ups across the company as a whole.

This closure is part of a larger restructuring effort by JELD-WEN, which has been downsizing and selling off portions of its business across North America and the globe. The company has stated these moves are necessary to stay competitive, but for workers in Grinnell, it’s a tough reality to face.

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JELD-WEN’s Grinnell facility has been a key employer in the area for years. Back in November, the company announced 152 layoffs, at that time the company was said to be employing around 900 workers. Now, with this latest closure, an additional 298 jobs will be cut. While the company will continue producing doors at the plant, the loss of window manufacturing significantly reduces its impact in the community.

A company spokesperson stated, that these former employees were provided with a competitive separation package and outplacement services to help provide a "smooth transition." However, for many families in Grinnell and the surrounding areas, this is a massive economic hit. JELD-WEN employed around 900 workers in the immediate area before these layoffs began, meaning this latest round of cuts has reduced the local workforce by half (450 workers laid off) in less than a years' time.

Why Is JELD-WEN Making These Cuts?

JELD-WEN says it’s streamlining its operations and shifting production to other locations. This isn’t just happening in Iowa—earlier in 2024, the company shut down plants in Hawkins, WI, and Vista, CA, affecting 448 workers in total.

The company has also been dealing with legal challenges. On January 17th, 2025, it sold its Towanda, PN facility to Woodgrain Inc. for $115 million. This sale was part of a court-ordered antitrust divestiture, following a lawsuit that ruled JELD-WEN had unfairly reduced competition in the market.

JELD-WEN has been making big moves globally. They sold off its business in Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia to focus on North America and Europe. Using the proceeds from these sales, they planned to reduce debt and strengthen their financial position. In a company statement they inferred they would be closing underperforming facilities to simplify operations and improve profitability. While these changes might help JELD-WEN’s bottom line, they come at a steep cost for workers and local communities, like Grinnell.

With the layoffs looming in March, many workers are now looking for their next job. For now, JELD-WEN says it will continue to operate in Grinnell on a smaller scale, but whether that will be enough to sustain the local economy remains to be seen. JELD-WEN is in the middle of a major transformation, cutting jobs and selling off pieces of its business to stay competitive and profitable. While the decisions may make sense to the "bottom line," they continue to leave hundreds of workers in Iowa and across the U.S. facing an uncertain future.