BoonvilleDailyNews reports from Boonville, Missouri, that modular home builder Fuqua Building Systems closed its plant here and its office in Bend, Oregon, earlier this month after over 40 years in business. At one time employing 175 in Boonville, Fuqua had ceased operations in May after a series of layoffs since the housing bubble burst in 2007. General manager Bill Terlep says there were nine modular manufacturers in Kansas and Missouri as recently as five years ago, but only one remains. Ned Beach, who retired as vice president two years ago, saw the downturn begin in 2007. “We began to see significant sales decline as opposed to a simple sales decline,” Beach said. “Did I think it would get this bad? No.”

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