By Andy Ostmeyer
aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Twin Rivers Foods in Neosho will permanently close its plant on April 9, with all 485 employees losing their jobs.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development received the news Tuesday in a letter from Doug Quillen, human resources director for the company’s corporate offices. Twin Rivers operates a chicken deboning plant in Neosho.
Company letter
“All layoffs will be permanent and the entire poultry processing operation in the plant will be discontinued,” Quillen stated in the letter, which was sent to state officials to comply with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
According to the letter, 410 of those employees are production workers, 23 are in management, and the rest work in various operations for the plant, such as quality control, maintenance, security and clerical positions.
Contacted on Tuesday, officials at the Neosho plant, 225 N. Washington St., referred all calls to the company’s headquarters in Fayetteville, Ark. Corporate officials there were unavailable for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Gib Garrow, Neosho’s economic development director, said he was asked to refer all calls about the plant closing to corporate officials.
Second closing
This is the second plant closing in Neosho to be announced in about the past six weeks.
Brass Eagle, a paintball manufacturing operation, announced in late December that it will close in mid-February, with about 60 workers to lose their jobs.
As with the Brass Eagle closing, the Missouri Department of Economic Development is planning to organize a Rapid Response team to assist displaced workers at Twin Rivers, according to John Fougere, spokesman for the department.
That team consists of state and local experts who can help the affected employees with everything from unemployment compensation to services available at area career centers to help them find new work.
Andy Ostmeyer is the metro editor for The Joplin Globe.
Unemployment
The unemployment rate in Southwest Missouri was 7.9 percent in December, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, with the rates at 7.9 percent in Newton County and 7.7 percent in Jasper County. December figures are the latest available.
Local News
Company notifies state of plan to close Neosho operation
- Local News
-
-
Prosecutor’s office asking state if campaign used county assets
The Jasper County prosecuting attorney’s office is asking the Missouri attorney general’s office to investigate whether Sheriff Archie Dunn has used the assets of his office for his re-election campaign.
-
Service dogs participate in ceremony recognizing them for their work
The Carl Junction post office has a reputation for promoting the release of special postage stamps in unique ways. Wednesday was no different.
-
Volunteers from Tuscaloosa paying it forward in Joplin
As the teens moved farther along the bleachers they were painting, splotches of bright red paint kept appearing where it didn’t exactly belong. On the ground. On their arms and legs. On their clothing.
-
Webb City mural taking shape at corner of Main, Broadway
Last Thursday, the north wall of the Middlewest Building at Main Street and Broadway was white. Eighteen gallons of paint and a whole lot of red Solo cups later, it will be a completed community mural depicting the Webb City Farmers Market.
-
Filing deadline approaching for county offices in Kansas
The candidacy filing deadline for those seeking Kansas county offices that are subject to the Aug. 7 primary election is noon Friday.
-
Economic development strategies emerge from Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative meeting
More than 30 people shared ideas Wednesday on ways to promote economic development in the seven counties that are participating in the Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative.
-
Mike Pound: Singing the praises of music teacher
When I was in sixth grade, Sister Susan, the music teacher at St. Xavier’s Catholic School, walked over to me while I and my fellow students were singing at Easter midnight Mass and said a bit loudly: “Mike, don’t sing.”
-
Electric bill to drop $6 a month in Joplin
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by The Empire District Electric Company, based in Joplin, to lower the fuel adjustment charge (FAC) on the bills of its electric customers.
-
Mo. Legislature officially ends its 2012 session
Missouri's annual legislative session has officially come to a close.
-
Strong to severe storms forecast for Joplin region
Storms developing across the central and southern plains this afternoon are expected to migrate into the Joplin region this evening.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Prosecutor’s office asking state if campaign used county assets
