Tyson Foods, Inc. has announced, as part of its ongoing efforts to increase efficiencies, it plans to discontinue operations at its Buena Vista, Georgia poultry plant at the end of May. In addition, the company said it will no longer run a third shift at its Dawson, Georgia location as of April 10.
Theses company decisions will affect approximately 190 people who work at the Buena Vista location and about 70 people at the Dawson location. The planned Buena Vista closure is a result of a combination of factors including changing product needs, the age of the facility, and the prohibitive cost of its renovation, the company said in its press release.
“Because these changes affect our team members and their families, it was a very tough decision,” said Noel White, president of Poultry for Tyson Foods. “Our business needs have changed in southern Georgia, so after a great deal of consideration, we’ve decided to take these steps in order to best serve our customers.”
In January, the company announced that it is making a significant investment in its Vienna, Georgia location and changing the focus of its production. That expansion project will add more than 700 jobs when it is completed mid-year. Tyson Foods said it intends to work with state officials to ensure affected employees are informed about unemployment benefits and any potential re-training opportunities.
