Lions Services, a nearly century-old Charlotte nonprofit that trains and employs people who are blind, is preparing for a major downsizing at its North Tryon Street manufacturing center. The organization has announced plans to lay off 107 workers, with a WARN notice setting July 1 as the target date to wrap up the cuts after the end of a key contract. For a shop that turns out textiles and military gear while offering vocational training to people with vision loss, it is a gut punch for one of Charlotte’s quieter economic lifelines.
What the WARN notice says
The WARN filing, dated May 1, lists 107 positions that are scheduled to be terminated by July 1 and attributes the cuts to “a downturn in business following the completion of a contract, and the absence of a comparable replacement, which will adversely affect operations,” according to WBTV. That report lays out a detailed breakdown of the jobs on the chopping block, including 45 machine operators, 23 assemblers and 18 sewing-machine operators. Officials have not given on-the-record specifics about the contract that ended or whether any of the affected workers might be reassigned.
Who Lions Services Is
Lions Services describes its mission as “Empowering people who are blind to achieve personal and economic independence,” according to its website at Lions Services. The organization is listed as a partner agency in the National Industries for the Blind directory and runs production lines that connect to federal procurement programs. The statewide manufacturing directory Manufactured in North Carolina identifies the Charlotte facility as an apparel manufacturer that has supplied textiles and backpacks under military contracts, which helps explain how the loss of a single contract can trigger layoffs on this scale.
Legal protections and next steps
Under the federal WARN Act, employers generally must provide 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs, and the U.S. Department of Labor offers guidance for both workers and employers on their rights and available support. The DOL maintains a worker’s guide and an interactive WARN advisor tool that help employees understand what protections may apply. Affected workers are encouraged to review those materials and connect with local career centers to learn about unemployment benefits, rapid-response services and retraining options.
Local impact and what comes next
Employees and their families will be waiting to hear whether there will be severance, reassignment opportunities or retraining support from Lions Services and state partners. Workers can look up contact information and career details on the organization’s website or call its main line for updates. Lions Services posts openings and key contacts on its site, and N.C. Commerce connects residents to workforce services and unemployment resources that will be crucial as the July 1 date approaches.
