Sister companies Copland Fabrics Inc. and Copland Industries Inc., manufacturers of synthetic cloth, are laying off 189 employees in Burlington, North Carolina, after they permanently close their factories early next year.

In a notice sent to the N.C. Department of Commerce this week, the companies stated that they will start firing employees beginning Jan. 2, 2019.

Copland Fabrics will lay off 103 employees, and Copland Industries will lay off 86 employees.

Copland Fabrics produces woven fabrics while Copland Industries deals with company shipping.

Copland notified the Department of Commerce of the upcoming layoffs in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires companies to give a 60-day public notice of mass layoffs.

On Nov. 1, the Almanac County textile companies announced they were ceasing operations. This marks the end of a family-owned entity that has had a presence in Burlington for the last 77 years. Copland Fabrics was founded in 1941, and Copland Industries was founded in 1948.

Jason Copland, Copland president, contributes the close of company operations to the continued onslaught of ever-cheaper fabrics from China combined with increasing domestic costs.

The companies have promised to pay current employees through the end of the year and to hold job fairs to help workers find new jobs. They have also promised to fulfill the numerous scholarships they have awarded students throughout the years.

According to a news release, they will not file for bankruptcy in order to leave the textile business with dignity and respect.

North Carolina has seen 9,838 employees laid off through WARN notices in 2018. North Carolina’s 2018 WARN summary can be found here.