A Tyson Foods poultry plant in Dawson, Georgia, that was badly damaged by a fire in April will close permanently.
The company announced the closure plans on May 25.
On April 18, a fire occurred in the dock area of the facility. Company officials immediately suspended operations, while placing all of its workers on paid leave. The company has since been assessing the damage caused by the fire, and according to a statement issued to the Albany Herald, took a “detailed look at what it would take to rebuild” the facility. After that assessment was completed, Tyson Foods said it made the “difficult decision to permanently close the facility.”
“The team members who have worked at this facility have done an outstanding job, and today’s announcement is not a reflection of them or the quality of their work,” the company said in its statement.
“Our 300 full-time team members who worked at the plant have been notified. All hourly team members will be offered a job at our nearby Vienna, Georgia, facility, and we will work with all management and management support on options to apply for available positions at our other plants throughout the country. We will work closely with state and local officials to ensure all our team members in Dawson are connected with the resources and assistance available to them.”
All workers will also be paid their regular work wages through June 2.
Tyson Foods further stated that it will be adding capacity at other facilities to continue to grow with its customers.
Since the Dawson poultry plant has been closed, Tyson Foods has met customer needs with uninterrupted service from different locations.
No people were injured as a result of the fire or an ammonia leak that occurred at the Dawson poultry plant at the same time.
