TOPEKA, Ind. — Just a week after a plant shut down, workers at Jayco's Starcraft plant are trying to figure out their options. The company is relocating its Starcraft plant to Middlebury.

That means 244 employees at the Topeka plant could lose their jobs. The company is working to find other positions for them. But if they can't, workers will have to look elsewhere for jobs.

In a small town, that's not easy to do.

LaGrange County has the second highest unemployment rate in Indiana, and some residents don't expect things to improve any time soon.

“It was a real surprise to all of us when the word came down," said Lyn Stutzman, owner of one of the hardware stores in downtown Topeka.

He does business with local RV plants and employees who work in them. Stutzman is aware that the county has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Word of more local layoffs is something he was not happy to hear.

”You hear about people being laid off and your heart goes out to them because there's just no place to go to apply for a job,” said Stutzman. “You know, they're really few and far between."

Many businesses outside of the RV trade are not hiring.

“You know we all wish we could hire more people and help out,” added Stutzman.

The clerk treasurer’s office says they have already seen an increase in the number of residents stopping by the town hall to see if there is any word of jobs in the area.

"Well, we've had people coming in asking for some assistance, and we inform them we have a good pantry for people who are in need of food,” said Clerk Treasurer DeWayne Bontrager. “People have asked about job works ... and we'll keep our ears open."

Bontrager says the community will pull together.

“We help each other," he said. "We're always out there helping the less fortunate."

Several people told WSBT News they think things will begin to turn around early next year.