Tyson Foods Inc. announced Monday the closing of its North Little Rock chicken processing plant at 3800 E. Progress St. The company will also close plants in Corydon, Indiana; Dexter, Missouri and Noel, Missouri, the Associated Press reports.
In May of this year, Tyson closed its plant in Van Buren, where 969 people were employed.
A spokesperson from the company said the North Little Rock plant will close permanently on Oct. 7. The plant has been in business for 55 years.
Officials said that the company will help offer relocation benefits for all employees that apply for openings. The company did not say how many employees would lose their jobs, but in a 2018 release, officials said that 200 people were employed at the plant.
North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick released a statement on the company’s closure.
“It is unfortunate Tyson is closing their plant in North Little Rock after operating over 50 years. I believe the infrastructure we have built with Amazon, Dollar General, Safe Foods, Federal Metals and others will provide a vast opportunity of jobs for the displaced employees,” Hartwick said.
“We have created over 3,000 new jobs in the last three years. We will continue to work with the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and new businesses to secure positions for the displaced workers,” Hartwick said.