Displaced Tiffin and Fremont Atlas workers start over: ‘It’s heartbreaking’

TIFFIN, OH — The abrupt closure of Atlas Industries in Tiffin and Fremont left more than 100 people shocked — and jobless.

But OhioMeansJobs is stepping in to help the displaced workers. The organization held an emergency job fair in Fremont on Monday, hosting more than 40 local employers.

“I mean, it was decent money,” Fremont resident Dan Gonzales and former Atlas employee of 20 years told the Fremont News-Messenger. “But now I have to start all over again. It’s heartbreaking.”

The 110 Sandusky County residents and 60 Seneca County residents who lost their jobs when Atlas closed “without warning or notice” attended the job fair event. Many of the former Atlas employees have in-demand job skills such as CNC operations, truck driving, and machining.

Those who weren’t able to attend the Fremont job fair are encouraged to visit the Seneca County OhioMeansJobs office, located at 900 E CR 20 in Tiffin, for resume building and job seeking services.

“What I am planning to do with the rest of my life; a lot of people are looking at this as real downfall, but I’m trying to stay optimistic and look at this as an opportunity to change the direction of my life for both me and my family,” 23-year Atlas employee Michael Ross told WTOL in an interview.