HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WOWO): Last week UTEC announced plans to move its air conditioning parts factory in Huntington to Mexico, taking 700 jobs with it.

Now area economic development officials are trying to find a way to fill the gap left behind. Rick Farrant of Northeast Indiana Works tells our Partners in News at 21Alive it’s a tough proposition because wages in northeast Indiana are lower than in other parts of the nation or even just the state.

The group plans on holding a special meeting within the next month to try and find openings in the area for stranded UTEC workers.