Workers laid off by tool manufacturer to receive support from Labor department. The company cut 78 manufacturing jobs at its headquarters and 179 globally. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $551,195 to Massachusetts to support employment and training services for workers affected by layoffs at tool maker L.S. Starrett Co., which cut 78 manufacturing jobs at its Athol headquarters in June 2025. Athol Daily News reported that the grant will assist 30 displaced workers across a 36-month performance period. L.S. Starrett laid off 179 total employees across its global locations, affecting engineering, maintenance, quality assurance and other roles. The company did not provide a reason for the layoffs. Administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration, this National Dislocated Worker Grant allows the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to provide retraining and skills development services for dislocated workers seeking assistance in Franklin and Worcester counties. Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources.

McCue & Associates creates successful Starrett W4900 Indicator advertising and PR campaign. Clinton, Mass. U.S.A. (November 18, 2025) - McCue & Associates LLC, a full-service marketing firm located in Clinton, Massachusetts, announced its successful advertising and Public Relations campaign introducing the innovative Starrett W4900 Touchscreen Indicator, the first of its kind in the industry. A case study is posted on the McCue & Associates website detailing the strategy, process, and successes of the campaign. The campaign strategy for the W4900 launch was primarily comprised of publicity and advertising. A press release was developed and intentionally embargoed to align with the W4900 introduction at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), North America's largest manufacturing tradeshow, where Starrett debuted the new indicator. McCue & Associates created the messaging and advertising program, and strategically selected publications to place print and digital advertisements for optimal audience reach. McCue & Associates continued advertising efforts beyond the initial launch, recommending and producing an educational webinar in October 2025. Entitled "Maximizing QC Options from Measurement through Data Acquisition", the webinar covered topics such as the evolution of precision gages and wireless data collection and highlighted the innovative capabilities of the W4900 touchscreen indicator. McCue & Associates received a Signet Research AdBrand(TM) Award for a half-page print advertisement featuring the Starrett W4900 Indicator that ran in the August 2025 issue of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology. The advertisement was ranked first overall for readership response by 200 respondents when compared with 20 different ads within the same issue, and scored highest on categories such as quality products, innovation, and purchase consideration. Overall, the PR campaign generated over 57 pages of industry coverage with 3,725,000 in circulation/ impressions. The campaign drove high traffic to the Starrett tradeshow booth, resulting in approximately 250 leads on the W4900 alone. Print and digital advertisements accumulated over 1,484,552 in circulation/ impressions and over 350 leads during the first 10 months of the W4900's introduction. About McCue & Associates McCue & Associates LLC is a full-service B2B marketing firm located in Clinton, Massachusetts, 40 miles west of Boston. Founded in 2001, McCue & Associates primarily provides North American marketing solutions for global manufacturers of machine tools, cutting tools, measuring equipment, abrasives, technology products and software. Committed to providing the most effective solutions based on client budgets, McCue & Associates strategizes, plans and executes all aspects of marketing from complete integrated programs to public relations, advertising, promotion, branding and communications projects. For more information, contact Michael S. McCue at 978-733-1353, by email at [email protected]. Reach out. McCue & Associates LLC offer a complimentary marketing evaluation to identify your needs. Contact McCue & Associates LLC. Mccue & Associates.

Starrett, Gerstner partner to offer 120 Limited Edition, American Made 1950's replica classic wooden Machinist Tool Chests. The L.S. Starrett Co. has announced that it has partnered with H. Gerstner & Sons to offer 120 Limited Edition, American Made Starrett Machinist Wooden Tool Chests. The Starrett 200WCR Chests are replicas of the classic and treasured 1950's Starrett 200W chest design and will be available to order this year from November 17th through December 19th for estimated delivery in March 2026 to anywhere in the continental U.S. from Gerstner's legendary Dayton, Ohio facility. The offer celebrates the enduring legacy of the Starrett and Gerstner partnership and coincides with Gerstner's 120th anniversary. Handcrafted to Gerstner's exacting specifications for heirloom quality, the Starrett 200WCR Tool Chest is made of sustainable Sapele (a.k.a. African Mahogany) hardwood construction, and all joinery, trim and classic hardware are true-to-original where possible. The limited edition chests are individually numbered and have been reproduced for size and layout to match the original No. 200W chest. Each chest contains The Starrett Story booklet, a Starrett Decimal-Inch Equivalent Card and a Certificate of Authenticity. Also, to be consistent with the 1950's chest, the 200WCR Chest includes the Starrett nameplate with its circa 1950 vintage logo and red felt-lined drawers. From machinists and engineers to woodworkers, DIYers and collectors, the 200WCR chest stands as a reminder of time honored craftmanship and the enduring value of the finest made tools and the chests designed to protect them. The collaboration is a fitting tribute to the generations of toolmakers who shaped the American industrial spirit. "The new Starrett 200WCR tool chest is a testament to American craftsmanship where quality and durability are paramount," said Charlie Starrett, Director of Product Management at The L.S. Starrett Company and sixth generation, great-grandson of Arthur Starrett and great-great grandson of company founder, Laroy S. Starrett. "It is not just a place to store tools - it is a conversation, a link to the past, and an honor to the enduring spirit of precision and pride in one's work." "We are thrilled to partner again with Starrett to continue the relationship developed nearly 70 years ago between Arthur Starrett and my great grandfather, Harry Gerstner when they first worked together to offer machinists' tool chests, essential for skilled tradesmen to protect and organize their precision instruments," said Kim Campbell Brown, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at H. Gerstner & Sons. "Similar to Starrett being the only company still manufacturing a full line of precision tools and gages in the U.S.A., Gerstner is the last American manufacturer of wooden tool chests from the early 20th century." For more information about the Starrett Gerstner Limited Edition, American Made Machinist Tool Chests, including the history of the Starrett Gerstner partnership, and to place an order, visit https://pages.starrett.com/gerstner-toolbox. Looking for a reprint of this article? From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today! JOIN TODAY to unlock your recommendations. Already have an account? Sign In