River Bend closing North Liberty plant

River Bend Industries will close its North Liberty plant while adding about 70 employees and investing $1 million at its plant in Victor.

“The decision to expand our operations in Victor will strengthen our company and allow other investments during the current economic environment,” said Ron Embree, River Bend Industries president in a prepared statement issued Wednesday, Nov. 17.

“More importantly, we will be better able to serve our customers with expanded capacity and service,” Embree said.

The North Liberty facility will be leased out and used for other activities, River Bend INdustries said.

River Bend Industries acquired the operations in April 2008 when they were owned by bankrupt Victor Plastics. River Bend is based in Fort Smith, Ark.