LOVELAND — A Colorado company, which sells nearly all of its products to U.S. government departments and employees, is struggling to stay afloat amid the federal government shutdown.

The Reporter-Herald reports Mike Lynch, president of Western Heritage Co. in Loveland, says sales “went to just absolute zero” with the shutdown.

Western Heritage Co. does small-scale metal casting, laser engraving and apparel embroidery. The most visible of its products is the metal belt buckle that is part of the official uniform of U.S. Forest Service employees.

Lynch says sales that would normally hit $5,000 to $10,000 in a week have fallen to $78 one week and $150 in another.

Lynch says he’s had to lay off all but one person of his 13-person staff.

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Information from: Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald, http://www.reporterherald.com/