Apparently ConAgra didn’t get the message that Wisconsin is “Open For Business” thanks to Gov. Scott Walker and his rubber-stamp Republican legislature.
ConAgra Foods plans to close its west cookie plant in Ripon.
The move will put about 300 full-time employees out of work, according to the company. Workers are being told today and layoffs are expected to be finished by December. Employees have the option of applying for other open positions within ConAgra.
The company released a statement Monday, which read:
“Following an extensive evaluation of our plant network, we have determined that we need to close the soft bake and enrobed cookies facility in Ripon, WI. We are currently meeting with employees to let them know that the transition will occur in phases between September of 2015 and the end of the year.”
That’s terrible. I feel bad for the city of Ripon and all the people and families involved.
The City of Ripon went for Scott Walker in 2014. But that’s not surprising in the birthplace of the Republican party.
I am sorry that this happened. This is something the state might try to get involved in. If WEDC wants to redeem itself, it might consider working with the union as it tries to convince ConAgra to stay.
“…an extensive evaluation…” “….we need to close…”
Why? What? Who? Where? Which?
It seems to me ConAgra is long on brevity, short on explanation.
After an extensive evaluation, I need to stop eating soft baked and enrobed cookies, especially ConAgra, NOW. They are bad for my economic health as they are for 300 of my Wisconsin brothers and sisters.
Someone on Cog Dis pointed out that it looks like they received a $400k tax break from the WEDC in 2013. Very interesting but par for the course if that is accurate.