CENTRALIA - More bad economic news is floating around Centralia-Chehalis , but there could be an echo of hope blowing in behind.

The Foseco Metallurgical Inc. plant in the Port of Chehalis, which makes disposable insulating sleeves used in casting at foundries, is closing as of Dec 1. Nineteen local jobs will be lost as the plant’s equipment and functions are relocated back to its corporate base in Cleveland.

The decision was made in April, according to local office manager Linda Courtney. Since September, the 14 remaining workers have been slowly tearing the factory apart and loading the equipment onto flatbed trailers for shipment to Ohio. By today, only six workers will remain.

Some of the workers will go for retraining. At least one is looking into joining the Air Force. Others will just be looking for work. Courtney, 59, who has worked for the company for 17 years, said she’ll be looking for a new part-time job.

The recession had cut orders for the company’s exothermic sleeves, which they sold for $3 to $20 for onetime use in manufacturing.

“The foundries weren’t getting as many orders, so we weren’t getting as many orders,” Courtney said.

She dismissed a rumor that the facility’s machines and jobs were being shipped to Mexico. Early on, the corporation had considered making some of its product in Mexico, but that idea was dropped and all of the work will stay in the United States, Courtney said.

Most of the building just south of the Chehalis city limits is now empty. Part of a giant furnace still is sitting on the concrete floor.

Jim Rothlin, executive director of the Port of Chehalis, said it’s disappointing when any local business shuts down, but that the port is in “promising” negotiations with a business that would set up shop in the space.

“If it works out, the company coming in would have more jobs than Foseco had going out,” Rothlin said.

He said the company approached the port about a month ago. While he said the status of negotiations prevented him from releasing details, he did say the company had suggested it could hire up to 50 people if it locates in the building being sold by Foseco.

That building , a football field in size, has a “For sale” sign out front. Across the front of the sign is a smaller notice reading “Sale pending.”