Jasco Industries in Bohemia to lay off 70 workers for 'economic' reasons

Jasco Industries Inc. in Bohemia plans to close its manufacturing plant and lay off 70 employees by the end of the month, a state regulatory filing said Monday. The notice said the reason was "economic."

The plant, part of the MG Concepts division of Jasco, makes custom fixtures and displays for department stores. The company filed the notification under the state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN Act, which mandates a 90-day notice when private-sector employers with more than 50 full-time employees plan a mass layoff or closing. The company couldn't be reached for comment, so it isn't known why Jasco filed a shorter notice.

The announcement is another blow to Long Island's manufacturing sector, which has generally been losing jobs in recent years. In March the sector had 73,900 jobs -- up 500 jobs from a year earlier, but about half its 1990 size.