Tyson Foods is permanently closing a pork packing plant in Perry, Iowa—a move set to affect roughly 1,200 workers at the city’s largest employer.
A company spokesperson confirmed the closure in a statement to multiple local media outlets, saying the decision by Tyson followed “careful consideration.” The spokesperson didn’t provide further details regarding the exact reason behind the shutdown.
The Arkansas-based company—the largest U.S. meatpacker—said it would help employees who are losing their jobs, including encouraging affected workers to apply for positions at other Tyson facilities.
“We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community,” the statement reads. “Taking care of our team members is our top priority, and we encourage them to apply for other open roles within the company. We are also working closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to those who are impacted.”
About 1,276 workers are set to lose their jobs at the factory, the Des Moines Register reported.
The spokesperson said Iowa still remains a key state for Tyson Foods, pointing to the roughly 9,000 people in the state who are employed at its facilities in Waterloo, Storm Lake, and Columbus Junction.
“While this decision was not easy, it emphasizes our focus to optimize the efficiency of our operations to best serve our customers,” the spokesperson said.
The company didn’t state exactly when the Perry plant will be shuttering.
Big Blow to the Community
However, Des Moines Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh told Reuters that company officials have informed him that the plant will close by June 28.
Mr. Cavanaugh noted that the closure is a “big blow to the community,” given that it is the largest employer in the area.
“It’s going to be tough to figure out what to do without them,” he said.
The mayor noted that he intends to work with local, state, and company leaders to find a new employer who can use the soon-to-be-vacant plant space instead.
It marks the latest processing facility that the company has moved to shut down since the start of 2023, following closures of chicken processing plants in Jacksonville, Florida; Columbia, South Carolina; Van Buren and North Little Rock, Arkansas; Glen Allen, Virginia; Corydon, Indiana; and Dexter and Noel, Missouri.
