The landscape of the award jacket business may have just changed dramatically. According to a report in a local Iowa paper, DeLong Sportswear Inc. has abruptly closed three locations in the state as part of a move to dissolve the company. The report said that DeLong Sportswear, based in Grinnell, Iowa, closed all locations Monday and notified employees that the business would not reopen.

Repeated phone calls to company officials were not returned, according to the article.

While the company has made no announcement as to the reason for the closure, a notice of lien has been filed with the Poweshiek County Recorder. It is from the Iowa Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance Services, tax bureau collection section, and concerns an unpaid demand for payment of more than $275,000 and a subsequent lien filed against the company's property. The document indicates the lien has been claimed in favor of the state of Iowa.

According to DeLong Sportswear's website, DeLong Sportswear, founded 150 years ago, is the largest privately-owned maker of school and collegiate award jackets, sports outerwear and team headwear in the United States. DeLong is family owned and primarily serves an independent dealer network through its professional sales representatives.

Bill Menner, executive director of Powesheik Iowa Development, an economic development agency in Grinnell, told the Des Moines Register that employees were told Chapter 7 bankruptcy is in the works. As of Wednesday, no papers had been filed.

“No one in town has heard anything from the leadership team directly, but it's our understanding that they've shut down,” said Menner. “Frankly, this did come as quite a shock. All we're hearing is second-hand from employees. That' all we know.”

Former employees were scheduled to meet yesterday at a meeting held by the Iowa Workforce Development to answer questions about such topics as unemployment insurance, food stamps or job retraining benefits.