Smithfield Honeywell factory to permanently shut down

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE)– The Honeywell facility in Smithfield will be closing its doors.

A spokeswoman for the company confirmed the location will be closing for good and will transition the site’s Eye and Face Protection production to other Honeywell sites.

“We realize this affects valued employees, which is why we will make extensive efforts to retain affected employees,” said the spokeswoman in a statement.

“Honeywell will offer severance and outplacement assistance to support eligible affected employees to help them pursue jobs within Honeywell or elsewhere,” the statement continued.

Smithfield Town Manager Randy Rossi said town officials were informed of the closure Tuesday night and that the company currently employs roughly 135 people at the Smithfield site.

Town councilman John Tassoni was disappointed by the news.

“To have a business of that magnitude, it is disappointing that it is leaving town,” said Tassoni. “If Honeywell wants to be a good partner, they would donate the building to the town of Smithfield so we can put our new fire station over there. We’re looking for a place.”

The Smithfield location gained national recognition during the pandemic after President Donald Trump promoted the company after they hired nearly 500 employees in the state to help with producing N95 masks in 2020.

However, those employees brought in for producing the masks were laid off in May of 2021.

According to the town, the factory’s doors will be closed permanently in November.