FARMVILLE, N.C. -- A town built on tobacco will soon lose its main link to the industry, as well as hundreds of jobs.

• Alliance One International says they will move tobacco processing operations from its Farmville plant to their factory in Wilson.
• The laid off workers are in seasonal jobs, and some of them say they're used to having to find work.
• Its roots begin with Monk Tobacco, which started operations in Farmville in 1907.

Alliance One International says they will move tobacco processing operations from its Farmville plant to their factory in Wilson. More than 500 workers will be laid off.

"I'm hoping that we can work our way through it," said Farmville mayor Bobby Evans. "I just want the people in Farmville and everywhere else to know that the town is going to do all they can do to help them out."

The laid off workers are in seasonal jobs, and some of them say they're used to having to find work.

"When I found out last week, it was kind of hard on me, but I was like 'I'm just going to get another job,'" said Shawnl Artis, a forklift driver at the plant. "People have been saying they're going to go get new jobs and find other stuff to do. Even though the plant's shutting down, we're saying don't give up."

The Alliance One factory continued a century-long history of tobacco processing in Farmville. Its roots begin with Monk Tobacco, which started operations in Farmville in 1907.

"Just in my neighborhood alone, there are three generations that worked for them," said Evans. "It has been for 100 years. Losing them is devastating."

Monk Tobacco eventually merged with the company that would become Alliance One.

Alliance One told Mayor Evans they will keep storage space in town and eventually renovate the plant. Artis says even though he has been laid off before, he understands Alliance One's decision.

"I can't be mad at a business owner for doing what he wants to do," said Artis. "It's like, if I was in their shoes, how would I do it?"