A Newton manufacturing plant has put on hold plans to add 300 jobs and expand its operations there due to the struggling U.S. economy.

TPI Composites, which manufactures wind turbine blades, halted plans to add the jobs and add 100,000 square feet to the $56 million, 316,000-square-foot manufacturing plant that opened in September.

Newton Mayor Charles "Chaz" Allen said Saturday that the 300 jobs will not be deducted from the 500 jobs that TPI initially pledged to the community.

"When I first heard of the decision I was disappointed," Allen said. "But, at the same time, we continue to work with TPI to ensure those initial 500 jobs and to eventually get the 300 jobs back in the future."

Allen said the overall reaction in the Newton community has been disappointment.

"Right now, we're going to stick with the original plan of 500 jobs," Allen said. "We would obviously like to get this done as soon as possible."

Jasper County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. It was 7.6 percent in August.