By Andi Anderson
Tyson Foods' pork plant in Perry, Iowa, ceased production on June 28, leaving the community uncertain about its future. Despite the closure, Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson is optimistic that the plant will be sold and reopened under new ownership.
Peterson told DTN that Tyson officials have been communicative with the city about the plant's future. The closure has significantly impacted the community, with over 1,200 people losing their jobs. "The closure has affected about 800 of our residents and 300 students in our schools have connection to those workers," Peterson said.
Some workers have found other jobs, many have transferred to other Tyson plants in Iowa, some have retired, and others are waiting out the closure.
Tyson has informed the Perry administration that several companies have toured the plant, indicating a possibility of reopening, though no timeline has been provided.
"We know if the plant does get sold, it will take some time for the new company to get it up and running with a new system," Peterson explained. "I wish we could say what the timeline might be, but we just don't know if it will happen."
Local Group Helps Residents
PerryNext, a collective effort by local, county, regional, and state officials, has been developed to support residents affected by the closure. This group aims to attract businesses, provide workforce resources, and address social issues in the community.
Two job fairs have been held to help residents find local jobs or those within commuting distance, preventing the need to relocate. "This group has done a great job of providing a sense of optimism for our local workforce," Peterson added.
Perry has faced numerous challenges, including the plant's changing ownership and the railroad leaving town. Despite these obstacles, the community remains resilient and committed to finding solutions for its residents. The city also considers the impact on local agricultural producers, hoping that a plant reopening will benefit them as well.
Hogs Sent to Other Plants
The Perry plant processed 9,000 hogs daily from some of Iowa's 6,000 pork farms, which market over 45 million head annually. These hogs are now likely being sent to Tyson's other three pork processing facilities in Iowa: Storm Lake (17,250 head per day), Waterloo (19,500 head per day), and Columbus Junction (10,350 head per day).
The closure of Perry's largest employer affects other businesses in town, and losing a significant number of students could impact the school district's budget by more than $2 million. "Thankfully, our school has a year to figure out how to deal with a budget cut. Our other businesses won't have that luxury," Peterson said. "We will continue to stay optimistic for the plant to reopen."
Photo Credit: istock-apichsn
Categories: Iowa, Business