Tire cord manufacturer Hyosung announced Tuesday that it will be closing the Scottsville plant in January and more than 100 people will lose their jobs.

A day after learning their time at the plant will come to an end in January, plant workers walked out of the building at the close of business Wednesday feeling a range of emotions from anger to sadness.

The plant manager says business has steadily been going down, and the decision to close the plant was finalized in the past week.

Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Timothy Hulbert says the plant is a significant employer in the region, and it is estimated that 106 jobs will be lost due to the closing of the plant.

George Wheeler has worked at the plant for nearly 46 years, and he was shocked to hear about the closure. The news shook him to the point that he was barely able to describe his feelings.

"That I never expected, but it happened. I feel bad, and that's about all I can say," says Wheeler.

According to the Scottsville Museum, the first bricks to build the plant were laid in 1944. The building was originally built to support the country's war efforts and was used to design and construct tire fabric.

In 2002, the plant was bought by Hyosung, and for the past seven years, has made tire cord, which is used as a core reinforcement material for tires.

"There's no way to go anymore with this type of work. There isn't any of this type of work anywhere and that's kind of sad. The ones that don't have the background in education, it's going to be kind of messed up," says Marjorie Roberts, the wife of a Hyosung employee.

Despite the troubling news, Roberts added that the plans to close the plant will not damper the spirits of her family. She said they will concentrate on all the things they have to be thankful for this holiday season.