UPDATE 3/27/10
NEW BOSTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- One local manufacturing plant is bringing jobs back to Scioto County.

Back in February 2009, lack of work forced Southern Fabrication Industries to lay off 80 employees -- nearly half of their work force.

"We had to narrow our employment base size for the business we did have," Plant Manager Dennis Ruch said.

Friday, Ruch said business was back up and announced 80 new jobs.

He said most of the laid off workers had been offered their job back already. Of the jobs announced, 30 will go towards the remainder of those laid off workers -- the other 50 will be completely new hires.

Kyle Bush, 20, is one of those new hires. He didn't have to join the military to serve his country. The work he's doing in New Boston is just as important as those on the front lines.

"The vehicles we're building are used quite often in the military, could save some lives," Bush said.

Bush's brother is in the military and his dad has worked for SFI for 17 years, so the work he's doing now really ties his family together.

"When you have the opportunity to bring these folks back it makes you feel good, you see a lot of smiles, that's always helpful," Ruch said. "Good for morale."

The SFI company manufactures equipment for military vehicles and cranes for large construction projects.

They operate on contracts with the military, Volvo and Grove, a crane company.

b>UPDATE: 3/26/10
NEW BOSTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- A Scioto County manufacturer is planning to make a major jobs announcement Friday.

According to a press release, SFI Corporation and Hadsell Development will announce the new jobs at the SFI’s facility in New Boston during a press conference set for 3:00 p.m. Friday.

The company says the announcement follows recent business developments and new contracting opportunities that create expanded demand for SFI products.

SFI makes belly plates, roofs hatches and other parts for the military most advanced combat vehicles, as well as large cranes for construction jobs.

Hadsell Development develops industrial facilities and sites throughout Southern Ohio, including the Bob Walton Industrial Park where the SFI plant is located in New Boston.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.

b>UPDATE: 2/6/09
NEW BOSTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Union employees and management at SFI are all hoping for a quick return to work.

Friday, nearly half of SFI's workers, 70-80 employees, will receive pink slips.

SFI Plant General Manager Dennis Ruch says the cuts are a result of two things: a weak construction industry and a U.S. Military with a future in flux.

“We don't know when it will improve. It depends on the national and global economy,” Ruch said.

The plant makes the life-saving belly plates, roofs hatches, and other parts for the military most advanced combat vehicles, but that contract is ending.

They also make large cranes for construction jobs.

New Boston’s Mayor says the local industry and its workers should be at the top of the Governments stimulus check list.

SFI hopes to get a new contract by April on new military all terrain vehicles but that depends on the country's military future in Iraq and Afghanistan

Even if they do get the new military contract, SFI say’s it won’t guarantee all laid off workers will come straight back, but they will try to get as many workers back on the job as possible.

Mayor Jim Warren tells WSAZ.com that SFI is cutting 70 jobs.

The plant manager, Dennis Ruch says 158 people work at the plant. He says the layoffs take effect on Friday.

The company is a steel fabricator that makes parts for cranes and advanced combat vehicles for the military.

Warren says the layoffs are due to lost contracts because of the weak economy.

SFI also has plants in Tennessee and Arkansas.

Warren says the layoffs will definitely have an effect on the economy of New Boston.