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Johnsonville Closes Momence Facility, Displacing Nearly 300 Workers

Johnsonville will cover two months of pay and benefits for all displaced workers

Mother helping sons with homeschooling at home during COVID-19 pandemic.
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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