A company that keeps industrial and other workers in clean uniforms is moving 34 jobs out of Memphis as it closes its cleaning operation here.

G&K Services is moving that portion of its business to Jonesboro, Ark., said Shayn Carlson, director of investor relations for the Minneapolis-based company.

The change affects a little more than half the workforce in Memphis, leaving in place management, office and sales employees.

G&K Services has about 165 locations in North American. The company had made the facilities at 3820 Delp one of its hub sites, taking dirty uniforms, cleaning them and sending them back to surrounding locations in red trucks.

The company also provides items like doorway entry mats, shop towels and dust mops.

The nation's dwindling number of manufacturing jobs affects support businesses like G&K Services, Carlson acknowledged.

"The economy took a downturn in late 2008; 8 million jobs came out of the economy.

"Traditional uniform wearing — printers, manufacturing companies, automotive related companies — as they pared back their workforce, there was less volume for us," Carlson said.

The economic recovery has been sluggish.

"All our facilities have been impacted. That's why we are making decisions like the one in Memphis," he said.

Read more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jun/06/gk-services-closes-its-memphis-cleaning-operation/.