TIFFIN, Ohio — Tiffin Mayor Lee Wilkinson issued a statement Monday calling the planned permanent closure of the Toledo Molding & Die facility on North Maule Road “deeply concerning” and pledging city support for the more than 400 workers facing job loss on April 30, 2026.
“More than 400 employees and their families are directly affected, and this is not just an economic issue — it is a human one,” Wilkinson said. “These workers have helped build a strong manufacturing tradition in Tiffin, and we stand with them during this uncertain time.”
The statement comes after TiffinOhio.net reported Friday that First Brands Group, LLC, the Cleveland-based automotive parts conglomerate that owns the TMD brand, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice announcing the permanent closure of the Tiffin facility at 1441 N. Maule Rd. The closure would eliminate all 407 jobs effective April 30. The Tiffin filing was one of three WARN Act notices submitted the same day by First Brands Group, with simultaneous closures announced at the TMD plant in Bowling Green (302 jobs) and the FRAM filtration plant in Greenville (302 jobs), bringing the total number of Ohio workers affected to 1,011.
Wilkinson acknowledged the closure decision was made by First Brands Group as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and after efforts to pursue a sale and maintain operations had been exhausted. Despite that, he said reason for hope remains.
“We remain hopeful that a buyer may still emerge and that jobs can be retained,” Wilkinson said.
The mayor said the city will work closely with the The Seneca County Collaborative, formerly known as Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to support affected workers and their families. He credited The Collaborative for early notification of the situation.
Seneca County Board of Commissioners President Anthony Paradiso declined to comment.
Wilkinson’s statement echoes cautious optimism expressed Friday by Seneca Regional Chamber & Development President Bryce Riggs, who said plant leadership had communicated to employees that there was interest in the facility and that leadership remained optimistic about a potential path forward before the April 30 date.
First Brands Group is currently operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which it filed for in September 2025. The bankruptcy came after the company’s founder and former CEO, Patrick James, and his brother Edward James, a former senior executive, were indicted on federal fraud charges in January 2026. Prosecutors allege the brothers ran a yearslong scheme involving fake invoices, falsified financial statements, and billions in hidden liabilities. Both have pleaded not guilty. The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Displaced workers are encouraged to contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for assistance with unemployment compensation. Information is available at jfs.ohio.gov or by calling 877-644-6562.
Assistance with job placement, resume writing, interview preparation, and retraining programs is available through the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services and OhioMeansJobs. More information can be found at www.senecadjfs.com/seneca-county-ohiomeansjobs/ or by calling (419) 447-5011.
TIFFIN, Ohio — Tiffin Mayor Lee Wilkinson issued a statement Monday calling the planned permanent closure of the Toledo Molding & Die facility on North Maule Road "deeply concerning" and pledging city support for the more than 400 workers facing job loss on April 30, 2026. "More than 400 employees and their families are directly affected, and this is not just an economic issue — it is a human one," Wilkinson said. "These workers have helped build a strong manufacturing tradition in Tiffin, and we stand with them during this uncertain time." The statement comes after TiffinOhio.net reported Friday that First Brands Group, LLC, the Cleveland based automotive parts conglomerate that owns the TMD brand, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice announcing the permanent closure of the Tiffin facility at 1441 N. Maule Rd. The closure would eliminate all 407 jobs effective April 30. The Tiffin filing was one of three WARN Act notices submitted the same day by First Brands Group, with simultaneous closures announced at the TMD plant in Bowling Green (302 jobs) and the FRAM filtration plant in Greenville (302 jobs), bringing the total number of Ohio workers affected to 1,011. Wilkinson acknowledged the closure decision was made by First Brands Group as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and after efforts to pursue a sale and maintain operations had been exhausted. Despite that, he said reason for hope remains. "We remain hopeful that a buyer may still emerge and that jobs can be retained," Wilkinson said. The mayor said the city will work closely with the The Seneca County Collaborative, formerly known as Tiffin Seneca Economic Partnership, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to support affected workers and their families. He credited The Collaborative for early notification of the situation. Seneca County Board of Commissioners President Anthony Paradiso declined to comment. Wilkinson's statement echoes cautious optimism expressed Friday by Seneca Regional Chamber & Development President Bryce Riggs, who said plant leadership had communicated to employees that there was interest in the facility and that leadership remained optimistic about a potential path forward before the April 30 date. First Brands Group is currently operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which it filed for in September 2025. The bankruptcy came after the company's founder and former CEO, Patrick James, and his brother Edward James, a former senior executive, were indicted on federal fraud charges in January 2026. Prosecutors allege the brothers ran a yearslong scheme involving fake invoices, falsified financial statements, and billions in hidden liabilities. Both have pleaded not guilty. The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Displaced workers are encouraged to contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for assistance with unemployment compensation. Information is available at jfs.ohio.gov or by calling 877 644 6562. Assistance with job placement, resume writing, interview preparation, and retraining programs is available through the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services and OhioMeansJobs. More information can be found at www.senecadjfs.com/seneca county ohiomeansjobs/ or by calling (419) 447 5011.
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