CORTLAND, N.Y. (WHCU) – Two employers in Cortland are closing their doors.

Voyant Beauty and ALPLA will shut down operations at the end of the year. Voyant has two locations in the City of Cortland on Central Ave. and Huntington Street. They employ 459 people total, 150 of those through staffing agencies. Around 35 people work for ALPLA, supplying plastic containers for Voyant. They announced their closing in the wake of Voyant’s decision.

“This is very difficult news, obviously, but we’re going to work hard to find other
opportunities for those people here in the Cortland area,” said Cortland County Business Development Corporation executive director Garry VanGorder. “The good news is that there are plenty of openings across the local economy. Our companies are desperate for workers.”

A spokesperson from Voyant said the company is consolidating in a changing business environment. The Voyant properties were built in the 1980s to house the Rubbermaid Corporation. They cover more than 20 acres in the center of the city, comprising more than 250,000 square feet with a market value north of $6.5 million. VanGorder said the Business Development Corporation is up to the task of filling the locations, citing the past closing of Rubbermaid.

“We do get frequent requests for large building sites by manufacturers,” VanGorder said. “These are quality buildings with municipal services, so we are hopeful there.”