NEWELL - With the recent announcement of the closing of Syracuse China in central New York, The Homer Laughlin China Company will stand as the last major dinnerware manufacturer in the United States.

And the Newell, W.Va., company wants to ensure they plan to stay local even during the forecasted harsh business economy.

"The Wells family, current fourth generation owners of The Homer Laughlin China Company, would like to assure you that we are committed to the continuation of manufacturing Homer Laughlin dinnerware in our Newell, W.Va., factory," the company stated in a press release Friday afternoon.

The local factory has put money into equipment and operational improvements.

According to the release, the company has invested heavily in their facilities to become more efficient and to remain competitive in a crowded market place.

One major improvement went into the purchase of a glaze reclamation system that enables the workers to capture and recover glaze that would once be wasted, Williams said.

He added the return on the investment has already shown because they're able to reduce wasted glaze every time that machine is in operation.

Homer Laughlin vowed to stand by their mission statement to "supply a quality product at a fair price and to provide jobs in the Upper Ohio Valley".

Since Sept. 1, some 87 new employees were hired to The Homer Laughlin Co. plant, Dan Williams, marketing director, said.

And the company has re-hired 20 people who previously lost their jobs within the last year or so, Williams added.

While cementing the fact of staying in the Valley, the Fiestaware manufacturer also expressed dismay towards the Syracuse China plant closing and moving their operations overseas. That factory will remain operational through the end of the year but will shut down in March 2009.

"The Syracuse China factory has been a fixture in the china industry for over 100 years producing quality products and providing steady employment in their community," the Newell dinnerware company said. "While they are a competitor, they are also part of a proud manufacturing heritage that is irreplaceable."

Similar, sad sentiments are echoed throughout the Syracuse, N.Y., area as well where close to 300 jobs will be lost due to the Syracuse China plant closing.

''It is one of the oldest companies in the community and it has deeply permeated itself into the community's consciousness,'' said Dennis Connors, the curator of history for the Onondaga Historical Association, where there is a permanent exhibit dedicated to Syracuse China.

''It's not just the generations who have worked there ... The product has carried our city's name across the country. It was regarded as a high-quality product and it was an image reflected on our city,'' said Connors.

Toledo-based Libbey Inc. announced Tuesday it would close the struggling factory by March 27, 2009, to cut costs and improve efficiency. Libbey also said it was closing its Mira Loma, Calif., glassware distribution center, which employs about 30 people.

Workers and local leaders said insult was added to injury when Libbey said it will continue selling china under the Syracuse China name on products imported from factories in other countries, the very competition that has helped kill dinnerware manufacturing in the U.S.

''To me, that's appalling,'' said Ed Kochian, deputy Onondaga County executive. ''They bought the brand. It's not illegal. It just strikes me as a very, very sad twist for all those people who built that company.''

''It's not only the fact that it's a job, but it holds the Syracuse name,'' said Ed Sabin, who has worked at the plant for 19 years. ''With so much manufacturing leaving this town, I always thought that it would be nice, at least, for Syracuse China to stay here.''

Syracuse China was founded in 1871 as the Onondaga Pottery Co. The company first started stamping its earthenware with ''Syracuse China'' in 1885. But it wasn't until 1966 that the company officially changed its name to Syracuse China.

Jim Gacek, a 17-year employee of Syracuse China and former president of Local 381 of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union, said the news Tuesday came as a surprise because management told the union in July that the plant was ''back in the black'' after a period of losses.

''They were saying we were making money,'' Gacek told The Post-Standard of Syracuse. ''Not a lot of money, but that they were doing better.''

The Homer Laughlin China Company said the upcoming year may be difficult, but believed they could continue operation with the help of the continued support of their customers and distributors.

"Without question, 2009 will be a challenge for all of our business," the 137-year old company stated. "With your continued support, The Homer Laughlin China Company will be here to fulfill our mission for many years to come."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.