Arkansas-based Tyson Foods says it’s permanently closing its Perry pork packing plant, a move that will leave the 1,200 workers at the city’s largest employer without jobs.
The move comes after the pork industry has encountered staggering losses over the past year.
“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our Perry, Iowa pork facility,” a company spokesman said in an email Monday.
“We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community,” the spokesman said.
Tyson said it will encourage employees to apply for other positions within the company. Tyson said it still employs 9,000 people in Iowa.
“We are also working closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to those who are impacted,” the company said.
“While this decision was not easy, it emphasizes our focus to optimize the efficiency of our operations to best serve our customers,” the spokesman said.
The closure is the second major blow to the Dallas County community this year. On Jan. 4, Dylan Butler, a 17-year-old student at Perry High School, fatally shot sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff and Principal Dan Marburger and wounded six other people before killing himself.
In 2018, Tyson got $674,000 in state incentives as it made a $44 million upgrade to the plant. Last year, the company closed at least eight other plants in Jacksonville, Florida; Columbia, South Carolina; Van Buren and North Little Rock, Arkansas; Glen Allen, Virginia; Corydon, Indiana; and Dexter and Noel, Missouri.
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Staff writer Kevin Baskins contributed to this article.
Jessica Roberts is a seasoned business writer who deciphers the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and entrepreneurship, she provides readers with valuable insights into market trends, startup innovations, and economic developments.
