PELLA, IA — Pella Corp., a window manufacturer, on Jan. 9 announced it would be closing its Story City, IA, plant and laying off 244 workers in early March, according to the Des Moines Register.

“After doing everything we could to deal with the housing decline, which is deeper and more widespread than anyone predicted, we must close this facility to reduce excess manufacturing capacity,” said Denny Van Zanten, Pella’s corporate vice president.

Pella said 40 seasonal workers in Story City would also lose their jobs. The company has no plans to close its other Iowa plants in Sioux Center, Carroll, Pella and Shenandoah, and plans to use the 400,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Story City for storage.