Overview
- Johnsonville Foods informed 274 employees on June 2 that its six-decade-old Momence plant would shut immediately to consolidate operations at newer sites
- Former employees, some with 25 years at the plant, described the closure as devastating and said they received no advance warning
- Momence Mayor Charles Steele reported only a 15-minute notice, and local business leaders warn the shutdown threatens area shops and the town’s modest tax base
- The company will maintain pay and benefits for affected staff for 60 days and plans to demolish the aging facility by the end of 2025
- The loss follows a February fire at nearby Glister-Mary Lee Corporation that cost 70 jobs, compounding concerns about long-term economic strain in the 3,000-resident community