Virginia Forge Co., a steel processing plant in Buchanan, is planning to cease operations by the end of the year.
Buchanan Mayor Larry Hall said he received word this week that the factory — one of the largest employers in the Botetourt County town of about 1,200 — will merge with a sister company in Pennsylvania.
Calls to the plant on Main Street were not returned this week. An official with MFC Group, which operates Virginia Forge, Meadville Forging Co. and a second Pennsylvania plant in Cambridge Springs, declined to comment.
About 70 people were employed by the plant as recently as last year, when officials said they planned to hire another 38 workers as part of a $4.6 million expansion.
