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The plummeting oil and gas industry delivered another to blow to the Bayou State today when it was announced Houston based Union Tank Car Company will lay off around 244 of it's employees at its Alexandra plant beginning June 24th.  Jim Clinton, CEO of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, say they've known these cuts were coming for awhile because Union Tank Car "...serves a market, that, in the long run, is always affected by oil and related commodities."

UTLX will continue to employ about 350 people, and will partner with local and regional agencies to help those laid off find jobs until the market bounces back.

"We expect that as the market normalizes, which it always ultimately does, they will be back at full workforce again." said Clinton. The company is expected to cut it's production in half due to market conditions and poor demand outlook for railroad tank cars needed to deliver to plants.

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