Acme

Acme, LA · Business
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KBUR
Economic development officials in Ottumwa are dealing with the recent announcement that John Deere will close its factory there and consolidate its operations in Des Moines and Louisiana
Economic development officials in Ottumwa are dealing with the recent announcement that John Deere will close its factory there and consolidate its operations in Des Moines and Louisiana. Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress executive director Marc Roe says within hours of last Tuesday’s announcement, he began collaborating with Iowa Workforce Development and Indian Hills Community College to brainstorm how to retrain and retain those workers. “Ottumwa, any community isn’t about one business. It’s going to change our landscape for sure, but, you know, it doesn’t have to determine the future of the community. That’s up to us to do,” Roe says. John Deere will leave about 400 people out of jobs, in addition to an abandoned industrial complex in the middle of Ottumwa. Roe hopes to attract new manufacturing, retrain local employees through workforce development or the local community college, and find new ways to retain families who are building businesses or going to school in Ottumwa.
NOLA.com
bizneworleans.com
951thebull.com
John Deere to Close Two Iowa Manufacturing Plants
After just announcing they were going to bring back their workforce, John Deere has announced plans to shut down two of its Iowa manufacturing plants over the next several years as part of a broader production shift. Operations for round balers and windrowers will move from Ottumwa to Des Moines,...