PROPHETSTOWN – Paul McCracken was among those who lost their jobs at the Tyco International plant in Prophetstown. But he considers himself fortunate.

That’s because the 57-year-old machinist found a new job relatively quickly. He said others have, as well.

The plant in Prophetstown is in its last days.

Last January, the company announced that it would close its factory, which makes valves and level indicators for industrial fluid systems. That meant the layoff of 84 union workers.

The layoffs began in June, and nearly all of the employees are gone now, with 10 left for the cleanup phase, the company said.

Eight to 10 employees remain in the company’s customer support service center in an off-site building in Prophetstown, Tyco’s Houston-based spokesman Roger Bentley said.

The company is moving its Prophetstown operations to a plant in Harlingen, Texas. Several local employees have accepted jobs at that factory, Bentley said.

He said it wasn’t Illinois’ union environment that drove the company to move its operations to Texas.

“It was optimizing the company’s overall plant usage,” he said.

The change was the result of an international reorganization of Tyco’s flow controls division, Bentley said.

The plant in Prophetstown, population 2,023, has been in operation since 1958. Tyco bought a controlling interest in 2000.

Prophetstown Mayor Steve Swanson said the company is moving to an area with lower wages and little unionization.

“Most of us have faced this kind of thing,” he said. “It’s one job after another. I don’t know what the government can do. They have to change the laws, so you can’t pack up and move.”

The mayor said most of the employees live within 10 to 12 miles of the plant.

“The closing will have a big impact – from the grocery store and the hardware store to restaurants and bars,” he said. “Prophetstown residents shop as much as they can in town.”

He praised the employees of the local plant.

“The quality of their work was exceptional. I’ve heard that from every source I’ve talked with at Tyco. I think Tyco will miss that,” Swanson said.

Barbara Ballew, executive director of Main Street Prophetstown, said the layoffs haven’t had much of an impact on businesses yet because the former employees have received severance pay and unemployment compensation.

“Several others have gotten jobs in other areas,” she said. “They are good workers, so they’re finding work.”

But she noted that Prophetstown is not a one-industry town. She referred to American Gear and Prophet Gear, which make gears; Genesis III, which makes industrial hammerheads; and Rock River Lumber & Grain.

“They’re all small,” she said. “As a community, we’re not totally dependent on one factory. There are towns with no industry. Historically, Prophetstown has always had industry.”

McCracken, who was laid off Oct. 11, spent two months looking for a job. During that time, he got a tip that John Deere in Moline was hiring.

The Lyndon resident started work there Jan. 3. He and five others from the Tyco plant went through the January orientation. Three others also have been hired by John Deere, he said.

“To find a livable-wage income with good health insurance is tough,” he said. “As many that are unemployed, I’m lucky.”