Oakes plant to stay open

OAKES, N.D. (AP) — A small town equipment plant is getting a reprieve.

The parent company of the JLG Industries Inc., plant in Oakes says the plant will stay open.

Oshkosh Corp., says the southeastern North Dakota plant, which makes aerial work platform lifts for commercial and military use, will shift to other manufacturing work.

The plant had been scheduled to shut down by September, with some of its 61 jobs moved to other states.

Sen. Byron Dorgan and Gov. John Hoeven said they spoke to Bob Bohn, a North Dakota native who is the chief executive of Oshkosh, about keeping the plant open in light of the company’s new military contract totaling more than $1 billion.

Hoeven planned to meet with workers in Oakes, on Thursday. The town has about 2,000 people.

Oshkosh has about 12,000 employees worldwide. JLG is based in McConnellsburg, Pa.

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