Has the Republic Windows Recovery Door Slammed Shut?

Vice President Joe Biden even visited the factory to proclaim a great victory for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and the new owners pledged to hire back everyone laid off in December 2008. However, despite plans for Republic Windows and Doors to be back in full operation by May or June 2009, the Chicago-based factory has so far managed to hire only 15 or so of the 240 workers let go when the previous owner shut the place down and moved to a non-union site. Serious Materials, a California firm, early this year bought Republic in hopes of producing green doors and windows to meet demand from the weatherization subsidy in ARRA. So far, not much in the way of orders has trickled in, however, leaving the firm with a truncated workforce. Was Serious just being too optimistic? Time will tell, but you can read the full story here.