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Springfield Kmart Closes, 68 Jobs Lost

The Kmart store in Springfield has closed. As a result of the store's closure, 68 jobs will be lost.
Wayne Baker
/
WYSO

The recent closure of Kmart in Springfield will mean the loss of 68 jobs. The chain, which is owned by parent company Sears Holdings, has shuttered the doors on two other area stores, pushing the job loss total to nearly 200.

Losing a job at any time of the year is tough, but particularly over the holiday season. That's why Amy Donahoe, director of hiring and employer services with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, says the chamber activated a special program to help displaced Springfield Kmart workers.

"Here in this county we have a process called Rapid Response, and we at the chamber work closely with the Ohio Means Jobs Clark County Office to offer services to those being downsized," Donahoe said. "That would be services like assistance with their resume, assistance with job search, and talking about the possibility of doing some type of retraining to move into other types of employment."

Kmart stores in Fairborn and Xenia have also been permanently closed. The Fairborn store's closure eliminated 66 employees, while the Xenia location saw a loss of 68 jobs. The Springfield and Fairborn stores closed this week, while the Xenia store went out of business in early May. 

Sears Holdings released a statement saying that the store closures are part of a series of actions being taken to reduce on-going expenses, adjust its asset base, and accelerate the transformation of the company's  business model. Sears Holdings shut down 77 Sears and Kmart stores this year, which amounted to the loss of 5,300 jobs across the country this year.

Employees at the closed area Kmart locations will receive severance pay and are eligible to apply for jobs at area Kmart or Sears stores.